Clemson Volleyball To Play Host To Florida State And Miami

Nov. 3, 2005

CLEMSON,SC – The Tiger volleyball team (9-12, 4-9 ACC) will welcome the Florida State Seminoles and the Miami Hurricanes to Jervey Gym this weekend. Clemson and Florida State will take to the court on Friday, Nov. 4 at 6:00 PM, a change from the originally scheduled time of 7:00 PM due to this year’s Tigerama. The Tigers will then face the Hurricanes on Saturday in a 5:30 PM match.

Clemson has three players with triple-figure kills for the season, led by Jeannette Abbott with 346. Leslie Mansfield has taken over setting duties with injuries to Courtney Lawrence and Dawn Robertson and now ranks second on the team with 195 assists. Libero Anna Vallinch has a team-high 367 defensive saves, while Danielle Hepburn leads the team at the net with 95 total blocks.

The Tigers narrowed the Seminoles’ lead in the all-time score to 20-14 with a win in Tallahassee earlier this year. Clemson edged Florida State, 3-2, on Oct. 2. Abbott recorded 23 kills in the contest, while Vallinch tallied 23 defensive saves. Clemson holds an 8-6 advantage in matches played on its home court. However, the Seminoles claimed the 2004 contest at Jervey Gym, winning 3-1.

Florida State will bring a 6-15 overall record to Jervy Gym on Friday night, including a 4-9 mark in conference matches. The Seminoles split last weekend’s contests, winning a five-gamer over Boston College before falling to Maryland, 3-1. Andreza Santos leads the team with 226 kills and .286 hitting percentage. Setter Jessica Skower had tallied 750 assists on the season, while Summer Weissing has recorded a team-high 349 digs.

With the series score tied at two wins apiece, the winner of Saturday’s match between the Tigers and Hurricanes will take a one-game lead into the 2006 season. Miami claimed a 3-2 victory over Clemson on Sept. 30 in Coral Gables, but the Tigers have won the only previous match played in Clemson, a 3-0 decision in 2004. Four Tigers posted double figure-kill totals in this year’s meeting as Abbott had 24, Danielle Hepburn had 10.

The Hurricanes will enter weekend competition with an 11-10 overall mark and a 6-7 record against ACC opponents. Miami’s Karla Johnson leads the conference with 437 kills for a 5.14 kill per game average. Ciara Michel has posted 100 total blocks and Kaitlin Kozak has a team-high 307 defensive saves. Setter Jill Robinson ranks third in the ACC with a 12.53 assist per game ratio, as she has tallied 1,065 assists in 85 games.

Fans can follow the action on the Internet by accessing livestats on www.clemsontigers.com.