Clemson Volleyball Falls In Five-Game Heartbreaker To ACC Rival Duke

Nov. 15, 2002

CLEMSON, S.C. – The Clemson volleyball team dropped a five-game heartbreaker to the Duke Blue Devils in ACC action Friday night at Jervey Gym before a home-court record 1,384 fans. The Blue Devils won the first game 30-23 before Clemson rallied to win game two 30-23. Duke controlled game three (30-24), but the tables were turned again as the Tigers won game four 30-27. The Blue Devils edged Clemson 16-14 in the decisive game to claim the victory. Clemson’s record stands at 16-14 overall and 7-8 in the ACC, while Duke improves to 23-7 overall and 11-4 in league play.

“It was a really hard fought battle, but unfortunately we could not pull it out,” said head coach Jolene Jordan Hoover. “I am proud of the way the team played. We are playing really well right now and it is an important time to be playing well.”

As a team, Clemson hit .193 to Duke’s .234 hitting percentage. The Blue Devils recorded 78 assists to Clemson’s 59, and Duke served up 11 aces to the Tigers’ five service aces. Clemson won the battle at the net, posting 12 team blocks (four solo) to Duke’s 11 team blocks (one solo).

Leslie Finn led Clemson with 19 kills and 12 digs, while Lori Ashton added 13 kills with a .355 hitting percentage and four blocks (one solo). Ryane Beasley tallied 12 kills with nine digs and three blocks, while Marija Zoric posted nine kills and seven blocks (two solo). Jessi Betcher handed out 52 assists with 11 digs and a block solo, while Lindsey Abbott recorded a match-best 19 digs.

Duke’s Katie Gilman tallied a match-high 20 kills with 15 digs and two blocks, leading five Blue Devils in double-digit kills. Sarah Salem added 18 killls, and Rachel Vander Griend posted 16 kills with six blocks (one solo). Jill Sonne had 14 kills with 18 digs and three blocks, and Krista Dill recorded 12 kills and five blocks. Stephanie Istvan handed out 41 assists and Arielle Linderman tallied 31 assists. Sonne and Istvan served up four aces each, and Meghan Brown and Josie Weymann recorded 16 and 15 digs, respectively.

The Tigers will play host to Wake Forest in their final ACC regular-season match on Saturday evening at 5:00 PM in Jervey Gym. Admission is free to all Clemson home volleyball matches.