Tiger Volleyball Defeats Wake Forest, 3-1, On Saturday

Sept. 23, 2006

WINSTON-SALEM, NC – Three Clemson hitters posted double-digit kill totals on Saturday evening as the Tigers defeated Wake Forest, 3-1, in Winston-Salem, NC. Jeannette Abbott led the team for the second straight night, recording 17 kills in the contest, while Lia Proctor and Danielle Hepburn added 13 and 11, respectively.

The win improved Clemson’s overall record to 6-4 while evening its conference record at one win and one loss. The Demon Deacons fell to 5-6 on the year and 1-1 in the ACC.

Didem Ege had 19 defensive saves.

Jessica Furlong of Wake Forest held game-high honors with 18 kills, while also posting two block assists.

The Demon Deacons won the first game by a score of 30-23 to take a 1-0 lead in the match. They jumped out to an early 6-3 lead, tallying five straight points before the Tigers regained the serve on a kill by Abbott. Wake Forest limited the Clemson offense to just five multi-point rallies in the game and used several of their own to extend their lead to as many as 12 points. The Tigers narrowed the deficit to six points late in the game, but the Deacs held on for the win.

Clemson rebounded in game two, holding an early advantage and widening the gap to as many as 11 points on three occasions. The Tigers scored five straight points to go ahead, 19-9, with kills by Abbott, Hepburn and Proctor. Clemson took advantage of Wake Forest miscues for its first 11-point lead. The second came on a kill by Meghan Steiner, while the third was thanks to a Leslie Mansfield kill and a block by Mansfield and Hepburn. Abbott scored the Tigers’ final three points of the game, as Clemson claimed the 30-22 victory and tied the match at one game apiece.

The Tigers controlled much of the third game as well, as they posted the first four points and nine of the first 11 scored between either team. Abbott recorded six kills, including Clemson’s 19th, 20th and 21st points, while a Steiner kill clinched the game for the Tigers.

After trailing, 10-8, early in the fourth game, Clemson used a six-point rally on the service of Leslie Mansfield, but Wake Forest scored seven straight points to regain the lead. Clemson knotted the score at 20-20 and the score was tied six additional times in the final stretch before the Tigers closed out the match.

Clemson will play host to Miami on Friday, Sept. 29 in its ACC home opener. The Tigers and Hurricanes will meet at 7:00 pm at Jervey Gym. Clemson will then face Florida State at 4:00 pm on Saturday afternoon.