Clemson Volleyball Plays Host To Solid Orange Event Against South Carolina

Aug. 30, 2006

Complete Release in PDF FormatDownload Free Acrobat Reader

CLEMSON, SC – The Clemson volleyball team will play host to the 11th annual and 16th overall Big Orange Bash on Aug. 31-Sept. 2. This year’s event should prove to be a spirited tournament with in-state rival South Carolina making its first appearance. The two teams will kick off the Big Orange Bash in a highlighted Thursday match-up at 7:00 pm in Jervey Gymnasium. Thursday’s match will also serve as a Solid Orange event with free admission to the public.

Fans are invited to a pregame tailgate, sponsored by the Clemson Athletic Department and Central Spirit, on the lawn outside of Jervey Gym beginning at 5:00 pm on Thursday. Livestats will be available for all matches in the tournament on www.clemsontigers.com.

The Tigers will then face Western Carolina at 11:30 am on Friday morning and Tennessee State at 7:30 pm later that evening. Clemson’s final match of the tournament will be against Charlotte on Saturday at 12:30 pm. The Catamounts are making their third straight trip to the annual event, while Charlotte and Tennessee State, along with South Carolina, are making their first appearances.

Sophomore Jeannette Abbott leads the Clemson squad with 48 kills, while freshman Lia Proctor tallied 34 in her first weekend as a Tiger. Danielle Hepburn leads the Tigers at the net with 18 total blocks, including six solos. The sophomore middle hitter was named to the all-tournament team at the Mortar Board Purdue Premier last weekend. Setter Courtney Lawrence tallied 111 assists in the three matches, while freshman Didem Ege leads the squad with 51 defensive saves.

In the 16 years of the event, the Tigers have posted a 37-10 record. Last year, Clemson defeated Connecticut and Western Carolina before falling to Kentucky in its final match. Brittany Ross and Anna Vallinch were named to the all-tournament team last season, and Ross also earned the honor in 2004.

Scouting South Carolina The Gamecocks have a 3-1 record entering this weekend’s action. South Carolina defeated Boise State, Loyola (Md.) and TAMU-Corpus Christi at the TCU Molten/La Quinta Invitational in Fort Worth, TX on Aug. 25-26.

Shonda Cole posted 82 kills in the four matches and boasts team-bests with a .408 hitting percentage and 17 total blocks. Setter Iris Santos has recorded 158 assists so far in the 2006 season, while Dinelia Concepcion leads the backcourt with 44 defensive saves.

The Gamecocks lead the all-time series score over Clemson, 31-20. However, the Tigers won a 3-0 decision in last season’s contest played in Jervey Gym. Tiger and Columbia, SC native Laura Boozer tallied 12 kills in the match while hitting a team season-best .667.

Scouting Charlotte Charlotte brings a 3-0 record into Clemson’s Jervey Gymnasium after winning their own Comfort Suites Classic last weekend. The 49ers defeated Buffalo, East Tennessee State and NC State by scores of 3-0 in each match.

Jessica Oldenburg leads the squad with 46 kills, while hitting a .519 percentage and posting 10 block assists. Setter Eden Ramos tallied 118 set assists in the three matches, while Cori Dayton has recorded eight service aces.

The Tigers hold an 18-2 advantage in the series record over the 49ers, including a 10-0 record in matches played on their home court. The two teams last met during the 2000 season, when Clemson defeated Charlotte, 3-2.

Scouting Tennessee State Tennessee State opened its 2006 season on Tuesday night against cross-town rival Belmont. The Bruins defeated the TSU Tigers in three games.The Tigers posted nine team blocks in the contest while setter Tiana Maua tallied 16 assists and Erika Godbolt recorded 13 defensive saves.

Friday night’s contest between Tennessee State and Clemson will be the first meeting in history between the two schools.

Scouting Western Carolina The Catamounts of Western Carolina suffered four losses in the opening weekend of the 2006 season. Heather Koontz leads the team with 31 kills, while Brittny Johnson has totaled 25 kills to go along with 11 total blocks.Setters Katie Hennessey and Meghan Boyle have totaled 69 and 33 assists, respectively, while Liz Rondone has recorded 70 defensive saves in the backcourt.

Western Carolina is making its third straight appearance in Clemson’s Big Orange Bash, and Friday’s match-up between the Catamounts and Tigers will be the 35th in history. Clemson leads the series, 24-10, and defeated Western Carolina, 3-0, in the 2005 tournament.