Hepburn Named Top ACC Volleyball Player; Murphy And Proctor Named All-ACC

Dec. 2, 2008

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Clemson’s Danielle Hepburn was named the ACC Player-of-the-Year and Tigers Lia Proctor were named to the all-conference teams, as announced today by the Atlantic Coast Conference. The honors were selected by a vote of the league’s head coaches.

The award caps Hepburn’s remarkable Clemson career that includes three All-ACC selections, two AVCA Honorable Mention All-America nods (2008 awards will be announced later this month) and a plethora of school and conference records.

“Danielle has been a very special person in our program and I am so happy for her that she has been honored and recognized by the other coaches in the league with the Player-of-the-Year award,” expressed Head Coach Jolene Jordan Hoover. “She has been one of the most dedicated players that I have had the opportunity to coach here at Clemson. She has continually worked to improve herself and to keep getting better.”

“Danielle is physically gifted and a fantastic athlete, but her work ethic and competitiveness have taken her to a higher level. To finish her senior year first in the league in hitting percentage, blocks per game, and kills per game is extremely impressive. She has put her name in the record books here at Clemson and I am so happy for her. I thank her for her dedication, commitment and leadership to our team; she is a first class ambassador for our program and Clemson University. It is always special when good things happen to good people!”

The native of Miami, FL broke school career records for total blocks, block assists, blocks per set and hitting percentage this season; and her current .397 hitting figure would better her own single-season mark from a year ago. Hepburn leads the 2008 squad in kills (450) and blocks (166) as well, while her blocks per set average (1.47) ranks fourth nationally.

Hepburn is the second player in Clemson volleyball history to earn the top conference honor as Cindy Stern was named the Player-of-the-Year in 1999.

Murphy was named to the All-ACC First Team for the second straight year after leading the Tigers to a 22-9 overall record. The junior setter has tallied 1,231 assists in 2008 while guiding the Clemson offense to a .267 team hitting percentage that is on pace to rank third in school history. Murphy moved into third place on Clemson’s career assist list with 2,663 and leads the conference with a 10.89 assists per set figure this season. A native of New Lenox, IL, Murphy has also totaled 124 blocks and 296 defensive saves in 2008 with a team-best 27 service aces.

Proctor, a junior from Inman, SC, picked up the first post-season honor of her career on Tuesday with a second-team all-conference selection. The outside hitter ranks second on the team with 399 kills and third in the conference with a 3.53 kills per set average. In her first season playing a full rotation, Proctor has also tallied 308 digs and 26 aces with 42 total blocks. She is hitting a .254 clip in 2008 to increase her career figure from .182 entering the season to a .210 percentage through regular season matches.

2008 All-ACC First Team Brianna Eskola, North Carolina Danielle Hepburn, Clemson Talisa Kellogg, Georgia Tech Callie Miller, Georgia Tech Rachael Moss, Duke Natalie Mullikin, Wake Forest Kelsey Murphy, Clemson Lauren Prussing, North Carolina Felicia Willoughby, Virginia Tech

2008 All-ACC Second Team Heather Brooks, North Carolina Lane Carico, Miami Angelica Ellis, Miami Ingrid Hanson-Tuntland, North Carolina Genny Mayhew, Miami Ashlee Moon, Florida State Jourdan Norman, Duke Lia Proctor, Clemson Lauren Richardson, Florida State

2008 ACC All-Freshmen Team Simone Asque, Virginia Lane Carico, Miami Kellie Catanach, Duke Sophia Dunworth, Duke Kadija Fornah, Wake Forest Erin Leaser, Virginia Tech

Player of the Year Danielle Hepburn, Clemson

Freshman of the Year Lane Carico, Miami

Coach of the YearNicole Latagne Welch, Miami