Clemson Volleyball To Play Host To Furman On Saturday Afternoon

Sept. 15, 2006

CLEMSON, SC – The Clemson volleyball team will play host to Furman University on Saturday afternoon in its final match before conference action. The contest, which is slated to begin at 2:00 pm, will pitt Tiger head coach Jolene Jordan Hoover against her former player, as Michelle (Thieke) Young is in her seventh season at the helm of the Paladin program.

Young played for Clemson from 1994-97 and was named the MVP of the 1997 ACC Tournament.

The Tigers have won all 33 previous match-ups over Furman, with their most recent victory coming in the 2005 Mizuno/Auburn Challenge in Auburn, AL. Clemson won by a 3-0 margin.

The Tigers have been a dominant force at the net so far this season, averaging 3.11 blocks per game, which ranks 24th in the nation. Sophomore Danielle Hepburn has a team-best 46 total blocks, including 10 block solos, while junior Meghan Steiner has contributed 27 total blocks. Hepburn’s block per game ratio of 1.70 ranks ninth in Division I. Jeannette Abbott lead the Tiger attack with 106 kills, and freshman Lia Proctor has tallied 77 to rank second on the team.

Scouting the Paladins Furman begins the week with a 4-5 overall record, but the Paladins will face UNC Greensboro in Greenville, SC Friday night before taking on the Tigers in Clemson, SC on Saturday afternoon.

Chibuzo Aguocha leads the Furman squad with 163 kills, while hitting a .270 percentage. Overall, the Paladins have a .225 hitting average, while limiting their opponents to a .189 mark.

Furman also leads the battle at the net over the opposition, blocking 2.59 attempts per game against 1.59. Nicole Palazzo boasts a team-best 15 blocks solos with 26 block assists for 41 total blocks.