Clemson Volleyball To Travel To NC State And #13 North Carolina

Oct. 30, 2002

The Clemson volleyball team will travel to NC State and North Carolina this weekend. The Tigers (14-11, 5-5) will take on NC State Friday night at 7:00 p.m., then on Saturday, Clemson will play #13 North Carolina beginning at 6:00 p.m. Most recently, the Tigers lost to Maryland (3-2), but defeated Virginia (3-0).

Sophomore Lori Ashton leads the Tigers with 381 kills and a .380 hitting percentage. She also ranks second on the team in blocks with 77 (21 solo) and a 0.79 blocks per game average. Junior Marija Zoric is Clemson’s top blocker with 112 blocks (27 solo) and a 1.20 blocks per game average. Zoric also is second on the team in hitting percentage (.295), while Ryane Beasley ranks second in kills per game with a 3.03 average and 297 kills. Senior Jessi Betcher has handed out a team-best 1,161 assists, and also leads the team in digs with 306 and a 3.12 digs per game average. Freshman Carly Hill has served up a team-high 36 aces for a 0.40 per game average. As a team, the Tigers are hitting .239 with a 14.65 kills per game average, along with 13.46 assists per game, 14.43 digs per game and 2.15 blocks per game.

The Wolfpack is 3-24 overall and 0-9 in conference play, after falling to Florida State last weekend (3-0). Maya Mapp leads the team with 263 kills, a 2.99 per game average and a .314 hitting percentage. Sarah Ensminger is second on the team with 185 kills and a 2.03 kills per game average, and leads the Wolfpack at the net with 82 blocks (19 solo). Ensminger has also recorded a team-best 195 digs and a 2.14 per game average, while Melanie Rowe is second on the team with 156 defensive saves. Lindi Sheppard has handed out 821 assists for a 9.02 per game average.

Clemson holds a 21-17 advantage all-time against NC State, and has won 18 of its19 meetings with NC State under head coach Jolene Jordan Hoover. The Tigers are on a 10-match win-streak against the Wolfpack dating back to the 1997 season.

The #13 North Carolina Tar Heels enter Saturday’s match with a 21-2 overall mark and an 8-1 record in the ACC. Most recently, the Tar Heels fell to Florida State in five games. North Carolina is led by Laura Greene with 312 kills and a 4.22 kills per game average. She also ranks first in digs with 272 and a 3.68 per game average. Molly Pyles is second on the team with 239 kills and a 3.23 per game average. Aletha Green leads the team with a .378 hitting percentage and is the team’s top blocker with a 1.31 blocks per game average. Eve Rackham has dished out 934 assists this season for a 12.45 per game average, and is also second on the team in digs with 207.

Clemson is 12-37 all time against North Carolina, with a 4-11 record on the Tar Heels’ home court.