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#24 Clemson Sets Record In 3-1 Win Over Georgia Tech On Tuesday

#24 Clemson Sets Record In 3-1 Win Over Georgia Tech On Tuesday

Oct. 30, 2007

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CLEMSON, SC – The 24th-ranked Clemson volleyball team (21-2, 14-0 ACC) won its 17th straight match on Tuesday night, setting the program record for consecutive victories. The Tigers rebounded from a loss in the first game to claim the next three and defeat Georgia Tech, 3-1 (22-30, 30-18, 30-20, 30-27) in front of a crowd of 1,750 at Jervey Gym.

The match was also a historic night for senior Leslie Mansfield. The native of St. Charles, IL recorded her 1,000th career dig to join an exclusive group of Clemson players who have tallied at least 500 kills, 1,000 digs and 200 blocks in their careers. With her 13-kill and nine-dig performance on Tuesday night, she has now totaled 578 kills, 1,005 digs and 275 blocks. Former Tiger greats Joy Fleming, Robin Kibben and Jodi Steffes are the only other players who can make the claim.

“I am so proud of my teammates for what we are accomplishing this year,” Mansfield said. “It is always fun to play a team as energetic and exciting as Georgia Tech, and I am happy we were able to pick up our game after a slow start.”

Lia Proctor totaled a Clemson-best 16 kills on the night while hitting a season-high .483 percentage. Jeannette Abbott and Meghan Steiner had 13 and 11 kills, respectively, while setter Kelsey Murphy tallied 50 assists in the match. Defensively, Sue Eckman had a team-high 14 digs while Danielle Hepburn posted six total blocks.

Talisa Kellogg led all hitters with 24 kills for Georgia Tech (15-9, 9-5 ACC), while Michelle Kandell had 23 defensive saves.

The Yellow Jackets claimed the first game after taking the lead early in the set. They went ahead at 5-3 and held off the Tigers for the remainder of the game. Clemson scored points on back-to-back kills by Hepburn and Proctor to come with one at 19-18, but Georgia Tech ended the frame on an 11-4 run for the 30-22 victory.

The Tigers rebounded from a .200 hitting team hitting percentage in game one to record a .424 figure in the second game, while holding the Yellow Jackets to a meager .106 percentage. They scored the final 10 points of the frame on the service of Sue Eckman to claim the 30-18 victory and tie the match at one win apiece.

Kelsey Murphy tallied two kills while teaming with Hepburn for a pair of blocks during the stretch. Hepburn also added a kill and a third block assist.

Game three then saw Clemson go ahead early at 7-3 and extend its advantage to a six-point margin for much of the set. The Tigers then utilized another late run to widen the gap to 10 points after scoring five straight points on the Abbott’s serve. Meghan Steiner played a key role for Clemson with two kills and a solo block and then recorded a kill to seal the 30-20 win.

The Tigers survived a late rally by the Yellow Jackets in the fourth game. Clemson held a 16-11 advantage before Georgia Tech posted five points to knot the score. However, the Tigers scored five of the next six points and then led, 28-24. The Yellow Jackets tallied points 25-27 to come within one, but back-to-back kills by Mansfield gave her team the victory.

Clemson will be on the road this weekend, as the Tigers will travel to Virginia and Virginia Tech. Clemson will face the Cavaliers at 6:00 pm on Friday in Charlottesville before taking on the Hokies at 7:00 pm in Blacksburg.

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