Clemson defeats Winthrop, 3-0, in Big Orange Bash

Aug. 29, 2009

CLEMSON, SC (ClemsonTigers.com) – Clemson defeated Winthrop, 3-0, on Saturday in the Big Orange Bash morning session. The Tigers (1-1) hit an efficient .326 in the match, recording 40 kills to only 10 errors in 92 attacks. Clemson also played strong defense, picking up 14 total blocks and holding Winthrop to a .075 hitting mark.

Senior Lia Proctor led the way with 15 kills, while freshman Alexa Rand continued her hot start, picking up nine kills and nine block assists in her second career match. The nine block assists are the fifth most ever in a match by a freshman.

Didem Ege extended her consecutive matches with a dig streak to 47 matches with 16 against Winthrop.

Cansu Ozdemir had eight kills in 15 attempts with only one error (.467), and has committed only one error in 34 attacks through two matches.

Clemson jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first set behind three kills and two blocks from Rand. Winthrop never got closer than four points the rest of the way as the Tigers closed out the Eagles on an ace from Ozdemir.

The second set started much like the first, with Clemson coming out to a 7-2 edge. The Tigers were able to retain a working margin of three points throughout the match before going on a 7-1 run to push the score from 13-10 to 20-11. Ozdemir again closed out the set, this time with a kill, to give the Tigers a 25-14 set win.

With Natalie Patzin serving in the third set, the Tigers sprinted to a 7-0 lead on two Rand kills and a block with Murphy. An Ozdemir kill gave th Tigers a 17-6 edge to put the match all but out of reach. Freshman Sandra Adeleye entered the match and promptly recorded to blocks to help seal the match. This time Ozdemir combined with Rand for a block to end the match.

The Tigers (1-1) take on College of Charleston (1-1) at 6:00pm in the Big Orange Bash finale.