Clemson Volleyball Wins Five-Game Thriller Over Wake Forest

Nov. 16, 2002

The Clemson volleyball team defeated Wake Forest in a five-game thriller (28-30, 29-31, 31-29, 30-28, 15-10) Saturday night in Jervey Gym. The Tigers completed the regular season with a 17-14 overall record and an 8-8 record in conference play, while the Demon Deacons fall to 13-17 overall and 6-10 in league play.

“We are so excited to win one of the five-gamers that we have gone to this season,” said head coach Jolene Jordan Hoover. “I am so proud of the team and the way we battled back tonight.”

Tonight was Senior Night at Jervey Gym, as the Tigers honored Boulder, CO native Jessi Betcher. The three-time co-captain is Clemson’s all-time leader in assists with 5,246 and is also the Tigers’ all-time leader in assists per game with an 11.92 average.

Clemson was led by the sophomore trio of Leslie Finn, Ryane Beasley and Lori Ashton. Finn led all Tigers with a career-high 26 kills, while Beasley posted a career-high 24 kills with eight digs. Ashton added 20 kills with seven blocks (two solo) and a match-best .500 hitting percentage. Junior Marija Zoric tallied 12 kills and 10 blocks (one solo), and Meghan Stanton recorded eight digs with a career-best seven blocks. Junior Lindsey Abbott posted a career-best 32 digs, placing her in a tie for fifth in Clemson’s record books for most defensive saves in a match. Betcher dished out a match-best 68 digs with 21 defensive saves and two blocks.

Valerie Rydberg led the Demon Deacons with 29 kills, 18 digs and a .339 hitting percentage. Kim Stern posted 21 kills with a match-best 13 blocks, while Jessica Hauff tallied 11 kills with six blocks (two solo). Ashlee Phillips handed out 60 assists with 11 digs, and Sara Beth DeLisle recorded a match-best 22 digs with seven blocks.

The Tigers will return to action next week as they travel to Atlanta, GA for the 2002 ACC Volleyball Tournament.