Tiger Volleyball Posts 3-2 Victory Over Maryland Friday Night

Nov. 17, 2006

CLEMSON, SC – Danielle Hepburn and Leslie Mansfield recorded career bests as the Clemson volleyball team won a 3-2 decision over Maryland on Friday night at Jervey Gym. Hepburn led the Tiger offense with 23 in the match, while Mansfield recorded 20 to aide the Clemson effort.

The Tigers rebounded from a loss in the first game to claim the second, third and fifth frames for their 18 overall victory of the season. Clemson is now 18-9 overall with a 13-6 record against ACC opponents, while Maryland dropped to 11-17 overall and 4-15 in the league.

Also posting double-figure kill totals for the Tigers were Jeannette Abbott with 21 and Meghan Steiner with 18. Freshman setter Kesley Murphy also recorded a personal best with 73 assists against the Terps.

Jade Brown led Maryland with 21 kills while also tallying 15 defensive saves.

Game one saw 15 lead changes with the last occurring as the Terps scored four straight points to take a 17-14 advantage. The Tigers were able to tie the score at 24 apiece after a three-point run and knotted it again at 25-25 and 26-26 before Maryland posted three points in a row. Clemson avoided the game point, as Mansfield recorded a kill and Hepburn and Lia Proctor blocked a Terp attack, and rallied for its own 29th point. However, Maryland scored the final two points to win the game 31-29.

The Tigers responded with wins in games two and three to take a 2-1 lead in the match. Game two was another tight frame as Maryland led 22-19 late in the game. With the Terps ahead at 25-23, Clemson rallied to go ahead 28-25, scoring two points on service aces by Didem Ege. Maryland then tied the score at 28-28 with its own run before the Tigers closed out the game on kills by Hepburn and setter Kelsey Murphy.

Clemson started strong in the third game, leading 16-7 early on. The Tigers then extended their edge to 11 points at 21-10, but the Terps put together five straight points of their own to come with six. Clemson went on to clinch the game by a 30-21 margin.

Maryland rebounded with a victory in game four. The Tigers rallied for eight straight points to take a 12-9 lead early in the frame, but a five-point Terp rally put them ahead 17-14. The score remained tight until another Maryland rally gave it a 29-25 advantage. The Terps then won the game, 30-28, to force the fifth.

After Maryland took a 5-2 lead in the deciding game, Abbott and Mansfield posted two kills apiece to Clemson on top. The Tigers then took a 12-8 lead after three straight Hepburn kills and then claimed the game by a 15-11 score, winning on a service ace by senior Dawn Robertson.

Clemson will take on Boston College on Saturday night. The teams will begin play at 6:00 pm at Jervey Gym.