Clemson Volleyball To Open ACC Play Tuesday Night

Sept. 17, 2001

CLEMSON, S.C. – Clemson (4-3) will open its ACC slate as it plays host to Wake Forest (5-2) Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. at Jervey Gym. The Tigers are 14-3 all-time against the Demon Deacons and 5-3 on their home court. Under Jolene Jordan Hoover, Clemson holds an 8-2 advantage over Wake Forest and the Tigers have yet to lose two matches in a season to the Demon Deacons.

Senior Jodi Steffes currently leads the Clemson hitting corps with 117 kills and a 4.33 kills per game average. She also boasts a .355 hitting percentage. Junior Jessi Betcher leads the Tigers in assists with 357 and is averaging 13.22 assists per game. Betcher is also leading the team in digs with 78 (2.89 dpg). Junior Anne Berki is the Tigers’ top blocker with 32 blocks (six solo) and is third on the team with a 2.42 kills per game average. Senior Meredith Kirtland ranks second on the team in service aces with nine, and has a team-best digs per game average with 2.96.

Wake Forest is led by senior Trina Maso de Moya who has a team-leading 82 kills, a 3.73 kills per game average and 87 digs (3.95 dpg). Junior Ashlee Phillips leads the Demon Deacons in assists with 274, and senior Margaret Davidson has a team-high 32 blocks (five solo). Red shirt freshman Tawni Schulte leads the team in service aces with eight.

Last season, Clemson and Wake Forest split their two regular season matches. The Tigers won their match at Wake Forest in five games, but dropped a 3-1 decision to the Deacons at home.

In last season’s loss to Wake Forest, the Tigers were without the services of Jodi Steffes, who was injured for the home match. Jessi Betcher dished out 52 assists with 12 digs. For the Demon Deacons, five players ended up with double-figure kills and three Deacons were in double-figures in digs. Wake Forest hit .238 for the match, compared to the Tigers .185 hitting percentage.

In the Tigers’ 3-2 win at Wake Forest, Steffes was one of three Tigers in double figure kills with a match-high 29 kills. Jessi Betcher handed out 60 assists, and Kirtland led the Tigers in digs with 26. Anne Berki and Dallao led the team in blocks with four each. Wake Forest also had three players in double-figures in kills and five players in double-figures in digs.