ELON, N.C. – Elon head volleyball coach Mary Tendler has announced the signing of Elizabeth Coil (Toledo, Ohio/St. Ursula), Mackenzie Taylor (Lexington, S.C./Gray Collegiate Academy) and Nori Thomas (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge) to the 2016 Phoenix squad.
Coil, a 6’2 middle blocker, was a four-year varsity player for St. Ursula. She was named both all-league and all-district her sophomore, junior and senior seasons and was selected first team All-Ohio this past season. Coil helped her team to four straight state tournament final four appearances and a trip to the state final game in 2013. Off the court, she is a four-year member of the honor roll. Coil plays her club volleyball for Toledo Volleyball Club. Elizabeth is the daughter of former Toledo basketball player Jeff and Loretta Coil.
“We are thrilled to have Elizabeth join our program,” said Tendler. “She will provide a great presence at the net and assist us both offensively and defensively. I like the fact that she has not only competed at a high level, but she has also experienced tons of success.”
Taylor, a 5’11 outside hitter, was a five-year varsity player and two-year team captain at Gray Collegiate Academy. She led the team in kills and hitting percentage both as a junior and senior and set the school’s single game, single season and career kill records. Coil helped the team to an undefeated regular season in 2014 and was named the most outstanding offensive player. As a player for SC Midlands, she won multiple Palmetto all-region awards and the 2015 region championship, while also being named to the 2014 AVCA Phenom List. Mackenzie is the daughter of Donald Perry and Amy Taylor-Perry.
“Mackenzie is a very dynamic player who will take some big swings from the outside hitter position,” said Tendler. “She also has the ball control skills that will enable her to develop into a six rotation left side. We welcome Mackenzie and her family to our Elon volleyball program.”
Thomas, a 6’1 middle/right side, was a four-year varsity starter for Colonial Forge and led the team in kills as both a junior and senior. In 2014, she was named to the all-state, all-region and all-conference first teams and was honored as the Free Lance Star All-Area Player of the Year. Thomas helped her team to a conference regular-season title in 2013, a conference tournament title in 2014 and a conference regular season and tournament championship this past year, while also making three straight regional semifinal appearances. As a senior, she was named the conference player of the year. As a member of the Fredricksburg Juniors VBC, she was involved in the USAV High Performance program from 2012-15 and was named to the 2012 and 2013 AVCA Phenom List. Alinor (Nori) is the daughter of former Geneva College basketball player Jeffrey and Linda Thomas.
“Nori is a versatile front row player that can hit a variety of sets from the middle or right side positions,” said Tendler. “She plays with a lot of passion and gives her max effort every time she steps on the court. We are very happy that Nori chose to be a member of our Elon volleyball team for the next four years.”
Coil, Thomas and Taylor will be eligible to play for the Phoenix beginning in the fall of 2016.