Clemson Plays Host to Virginia and Virginia Tech This Weekend

Oct. 20, 2005

CLEMSON, SC – The Tiger volleyball team (9-8, 4-5) returns to Jervey Gym on Friday, Oct. 21 to face the Virginia Cavaliers in a 7:00 PM match. Clemson will then play host to Virginia Tech on Saturday at 5:30 PM. Clemson’s outside hitters, Jeannette Abbott and Brittany Ross, continue to lead the team, posting 538 kill between them. Laura Boozer has a team-high .348 hitting percentage and Anna Vallinch is averaging 4.68 digs per game with a total of 295 in 63 games. At the net, the Tigers are led by Danielle Hepburn with 76 total blocks for a 1.26 block per game average.

The Tigers hold a 30-10 all-time advantage over the Cavaliers and lead, 16-3, in matches played at Jervey Gym. The teams split last year’s contests with each school winning on its home court. Clemson won, 3-1, on Oct. 16, while Virginia claimed a 3-0 decision on Nov. 12. The Virginia Cavaliers enter the weekend in third place in the ACC with a 7-2 conference record. They have won their last five matches to bring their overall record to 12-6. Virginia leads the ACC in service aces per game, as sisters Sarah and Emily Kirkwood top the individual rankings. Sarah has a league-best 0.55 ace per game mark and Emily ranks second with a 0.48 average. Sarah also has a team-high 287 kills with a .312 hitting percentage, while Emily has tallied 786 set assists to lead the Cavaliers.

Saturday’s meeting between the Tigers and Hokies will be just the eighth in history, with Clemson leading 5-2 overall. The Tigers have also won both contests played in Clemson. The last match at Jervey Gym was during the 2002 season when Virginia Tech fell, 3-0, in the Clemson Invitational. The Hokies won the regular season match last year in Blacksburg, 3-0, but the Tigers claimed the contest in the first round of the ACC Tournament by a score of 3-2.

Virginia Tech will begin the weekend with a 9-9 overall record and a 4-5 mark against conference opponents. The Hokies will face Georgia Tech in Atlanta on Friday night before traveling to Tigertown on Saturday. Virginia Tech is lead by Katie Esbrook who has recorded 213 kills and has posted a team-high 67 blocks this season. Setter Melissa Markowski ranks second in the ACC with a 12.60 assist per game average, while Amanda Cloyd is averaging 4.67 digs per game.

Fans can follow the action on the Internet by accessing livestats on www.clemsontigers.com.