Clemson Handles Virginia, 3-0

Oct. 16, 1999

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Senior outside hitter Alison Coday tallied a match-high 17 kills and added 16 digs to lead the 15th-ranked Clemson volleyball team to a 3-0 (15-5, 15-6, 15-13) victory over the University of Virginia on Saturday evening at University Hall. With the loss, UVa falls to 12-6 overall and 5-3 in the ACC, while Clemson improves to 18-1 overall and 7-1 in the conference.

Clemson hit .278 in winning game one 15-6. The Tigers took an early 6-1 lead and did not relinquish it. The Cavaliers jumped out to a 6-2 advantage in the second game, but Emily Gorla served six-straight points to give Clemson the lead for good, 8-6. They went on to a 15-6 victory in game two. Virginia built a 6-4 lead in the third game, but Clemson tallied six-consecutive points to take a 10-6 edge. The ‘Hoos battled back to tie the game at 11-11 and eventually took a 13-12 lead on a kill by fourth-year outside hitter Whitney Bilger (La Jolla, Calif./The Bishops School). The Tigers scored the final three points to win game three 15-13 and clinch the match.

Clemson hit .277 in the match, committing just 14 errors while connecting on 62 kills in 173 attempts. Virginia hit only .160 in the contest (58 kills, 28 errors, 187 attempts). The Tigers also held a 93-81 edge in digs.

Third year outside hitter Katie Jones (Kingwood, Texas/Kingwood) led the Cavaliers with 15 kills, while Bilger added 13 kills and 16 digs. Third-year middle hitter Deanna Zwarich (Overland Park, Kan./Shawnee Mission) registered a double-double with 13 kills and 16 digs. Fourth-year setter Mary Frances Scott (Phoenix, Ariz./Xavier College Prep) recorded a team-high 47 assists and added 12 digs, while 1998 First Team All-ACC selection Jessica Parsons (Green Oaks, Ill./Libertyville) contributed a team-high 17 digs, nine kills and three block assists.

In addition to Coday, senior Cindy Stern recorded 14 kills and 13 digs, while Gorla tied for team-high honors with 18 digs and added 12 kills for the Tigers. Sophomore Jodi Steffes also notched 18 digs. Freshman setter Jessi Betcher dished out 49 assists and posted 15 digs.

Virginia returns to action on Tuesday, October 19, when it hosts Wake Forest in a crucial ACC match at 7:30 p.m. in University Hall.

Clemson 3, Virginia 0

Game Scores              1    2    3      Final ScoreClemson (18-1, 7-1)      15   15   15   --   3Virginia (12-6, 5-3)      5    6   13   --   0

Time of Match: 1:37 Attendance: 157