Clemson Volleyball Loses Five-Game Nailbiter To College Of Charleston

Sept. 5, 2003

CLEMSON, S.C. – The Clemson volleyball team dropped a five-game nailbiter to College of Charleston in the first round of the 2003 Big Orange Bash. Clemson fell 3-2 by game scores of 30-24, 25-30, 27-30, 30-27 and 15-11. With the loss, the Tigers fall to 1-4 on the season, while College of Charleston stands at 2-2 on the year.

Clemson was paced by Lori Ashton who tallied 23 kills with nine digs and 15 blocks (four solo). Her 11 block assists placed her in a tie for second in the Clemson record book for most block assists in a match, and her 15 total blocks were a career-best effort. Ashton’s double-digit kills were complimented by Finn and Zoric’s 11 kills along with 10 each from Ryane Beasley and Liz Beckham. Stephanie Haskell handed out 29 assists with a career-high nine blocks (one solo), while Dawn Robertson added 25 assists. Lindsey Abbott’s 30 digs were a season-best for her, and Leslie Finn tallied 21 digs for another career-best. As a team, the Tigers’ 23 total blocks were the most blocks recorded by any Clemson team in a match, while their 34 blocks assists also set an all-time match record.

Stephanie Ballard led the College of Charleston with 24 kills and 16 digs, while Alisa Long added 20 kills with five blocks (one solo) and a match-best three service aces. Rebecca Weiters added 12 kills, and Sara Davis posted 11 kills with a team-best 29 digs.

The Cougars claimed game one, 30-24, hitting .196 as a team while holding the Tigers to a .078 hitting percentage. College of Charleston jumped out to a 7-2 lead before Clemson rallied to win five consecutive points to knot the score. The game remained close until after 11-11 when the Cougars won eight of the next 10 points to lead 19-13. The Tigers won three of the next four points, but College of Charleston regained momentum and held onto their lead to take the first game. Ashton led the Tigers with six kills and three blocks (one solo), while College of Charleston’s Alisa Long also posted six kills and two blocks with a .857 hitting percentage.

Game two was an early battle, as the lead changed five times, all within the first 37 points of the game. Clemson improved its hitting percentage to .333 for the game, and held the Cougars to only .170. Beckham and Ashton tallied four kills each in the second stanza, while the Cougars’ Stephanie Ballard posted six kills.

The College of Charleston gained the early advantage in game three, but the Tigers rallied to win it 30-27. The Cougars led by as many as four points early in the game, but solid net play by the Tigers gave Clemson the advantage. Once again, Clemson outhit the Cougars, .170 to .067, while tallying 14 blocks (two solo) to College of Charleston’s two blocks. Ashton led the Clemson effort with five kills and five blocks (one solo), while Ballard knocked down eight kills to pace the Cougars.

Game four looked to be under the Tigers’ control, as Clemson held a five-point lead at 20-15. The Cougars mounted a comeback behind three kills from Long, knotting the score at 21-21. The lead see-sawed before a Rebecca Weiters kill gave College of Charleston a 28-27 advantage that they did not relinquish. Clemson’s Ashton recorded five kills with three blocks (one solo), and Long had seven kills to pace the Cougars.

In the decisive game, College of Charleston dominated early, going out to a 7-2 lead. Clemson fought back, leveling the score at 11-11, before the Cougars claimed the next four points to clench the victory. Ashton again led the Tigers with three kills and two blocks (one solo), while Long had one kill with two blocks (one solo).

Clemson returns to action at 7:00 PM on Friday, as the Tigers face Winthrop in the second round of the Big Orange Bash.