Clemson Completes Day One of Big Orange Bash

Sept. 11, 2004

Clemson volleyball won both of its Friday matches in the annual Big Orange Bash. The Tigers defeated Coastal Carolina in a 1:00 PM match and then Central Michigan in a four-game thriller Friday evening. With the pair of wins, Clemson improved its overall record to 6-2.

“We’re very excited to get two wins on the same day,” said Jolene Jordan Hoover, head coach at Clemson. “I’m really proud of how we battled Central Michigan. They were a very good team. In games three and four, we played tight all the way to 20 and we were able to press and finish.”

The leading performers for the first day of the tournament were Leslie Finn of Clemson and Emily Lovejoy of Central Michigan. In two matches, Finn posted 43 kills and a hitting percentage over .500. Lovejoy totaled 49 kills in the Chippewas’ two matches.

In their first match, the Tigers downed Coastal Carolina 3-0 (30-22, 30-24, 30-23). Clemson was led by a pair of outside hitters, Finn and Brittany Ross. Finn, a senior captain, recorded a match-best 21 kills and .594 hitting percentage, while Ross hit .346 with 14 kills.

In the night’s final match against Central Michigan, Clemson held off the Chippewas in four games (30-23, 26-30, 30-21, 30-22). Finn led Clemson with 22 kills and a .475 hitting percentage. The Tigers rallied to score eight of the last nine points in the first game. Up 23-21 in game two, Clemson scored the final seven points to claim the game. Clemson clinched the match in game four after Finn’s seven consecutive kills gave the Tigers an insurmountable 16-10 lead. Lovejoy recorded 30 kills for the Chippewas in a fine individual performance.

In other action from the Big Orange Bash on Friday, Central Michigan defeated Louisiana-Lafayette 3-0 (30-26, 30-10, 30-15) and Coastal Carolina defeated Louisiana-Lafayette in four games (30-23, 20-30, 30-21, 31-29).

The tournament concludes tomorrow with a 10:00 AM match between Coastal Carolina and Central Michigan and a 12:30 match pitting Clemson versus Louisiana-Lafayette. Admission is free to both matches.