Tiger Volleyball To Play Host To A Pair Of ACC Foes This Weekend

Sept. 27, 2007

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CLEMSON, SC – Jolene Jordan Hoover’s Tiger volleyball team will play host to Virginia Tech (7-6, 1-2 ACC) and Virginia (7-5, 2-1 ACC) this weekend in Clemson’s first conference home matches of the season. The Tigers posted two ACC wins to open conference play and improved to 9-2 overall. Clemson and Virginia Tech are scheduled to begin play at 7:00 pm at Jervey Gym, while the Tigers and Cavaliers will meet at 6:00 pm on Saturday. Both matches are free to the general public.

Fans may follow the action for both matches on the Internet via livestats by accessing www.clemsontigers.com.

Danielle Hepburn leads the Clemson offense with 149 kills while Jeannette Abbott has totaled 137 for the season. Setter Didem Ege is atop the conference standings with a 5.59 digs per game average. The Istanbul, Turkey native is a big reason why Clemson ranks 16th in the nation for the statistic.

Scouting the Hokies Virginia Tech brings a 7-6 overall record into Jervey Gym on Friday night. The Hokies opened the season with four straight wins but have since dropped six of 10, including two to ACC opponents.

Taylor Parrish owns a team-best 149 kills while also posting 3.64 digs per game. Setter Michelle Lang has tallied 539 assists in 2007 and also ranks in a tie for second on the team with 56 total blocks. Overall, Virginia Tech is averaging 3.29 blocks per game, which ranks 13th in the nation. Felicia Willoughby leads the team with 64 total blocks on the year.

Clemson vs. Virginia Tech, The Series Clemson took a narrow 6-5 advantage in the series with the Hokies after winning a five-game battle at Jervey Gym last season. Virginia Tech won the match-up in Blacksburg, VA earlier in the year by a 3-1 margin.

Scouting the Cavaliers Virginia enters the weekend with a 7-5 overall ledger and boasts a 2-1 record in ACC action. The Cavaliers defeated Virginia Tech and Florida State in conference play before falling to Miami last Friday night. They will face Georgia Tech on the 28th before traveling to Clemson on Saturday.

Senior outside hitter Sarah Kirkwood has totaled 209 kills already in 2007 and ranks second in the ACC with a 4.64 kills per game average. She has also recorded 25 service aces. On the defensive front for Virginia, Katie Oakes has posted 65 total blocks for a 1.44 per game average while Melissa Caldwell owns a Cavalier high 163 digs.

Clemson vs. Virginia, The Series The Tigers lead 31-13 all time against the Cavaliers in a series that dates back to 1981. The two teams split last year’s contests with each winning on its home court.Virginia claimed a 3-1 victory in Charlottesville on Oct. 20, while Clemson swept the Cavaliers in the match-up at Jervey Gym to conclude the 2007 season for both squads.