Tiger Volleyball To Play Host To Furman Wednesday In Jervey Gym

Sept. 1, 2003

CLEMSON, SC – The Tiger volleyball team will play host to its first home match of the 2003 season on Wednesday, Sept. 3 against Furman at 7:00 p.m. in Jervey Gym.

The Tigers boast a 30-0 all-time record against the Paladins, a 15-0 record against Furman in Jervey Gym and an 86-24 overall mark against teams in the Southern Conference. Over the last six seasons, the Tigers have posted a 65-24 record in Jervey Gym, including a 12-4 mark during the 2002 season. Clemson is 20-6 all-time in home openers, and under head coach Jolene Jordan Hoover the Tigers are 9-1 all-time, with the only loss occurring during the 2001 season against Wright State.

Last year, the Tigers defeated Furman 3-2 at Timmons Arena. Clemson won the first two games 30-21 and 30-20, but Furman rallied to win games three and four, 30-26 and 30-28. The Tigers won the decisive game 15-13.

Clemson has an 0-3 overall record entering the Furman match after opening their season at the Barker GMC Classic in Normal, IL. The Tigers lost their season opener to #7 Nebraska 3-0 and then lost two hard fought matches to Illinois State and Illinois on the second day of the tournament. Clemson dropped a 3-1 decision to the Redbirds on Saturday morning and then fell to Illinois 3-1 later that night.

Junior Lori Ashton, the Tigers’ all-time leader in hitting percentage (.340), was named to the Barker GMC Classic All-Tournament Team after posting 42 kills, a .282 hitting percentage, eight digs and nine blocks (two solo). The middle hitter posted a team-best 20 kills and a .405 hitting percentage against Illinois State and recorded 14 kills against Illinois. She tallied five total blocks (one solo) against the Redbirds, and four blocks (one solo) against the Illini.

Ashton leads Clemson this season with 42 kills and a 3.82 kills per game average. Rookie Liz Beckham has a team-best .349 hitting percentage with a 3.33 digs per game average, while senior Lindsey Abbott has 28 digs and a 2.55 digs per game average. Senior Marija Zoric leads the team at the net with 10 blocks (one solo) and a 1.00 blocks per game average, while red-shirt junior Ryane Beasley has 10 blocks with a 0.91 blocks per game average. Junior Stephanie Haskell has handed out 104 assists and has served up a team-best three service aces.

The Paladins are 0-3 entering Wednesday’s match, after falling to DePaul (3-0), Morehead (3-0) and IUPUI (3-0) at the Morehead State Invitational last weekend. Julia Fredrickson leads Furman with 25 kills and seven total blocks, while Whitney Purser leads the team with 27 digs with a 3.38 digs per game average. Michelle Cauldwell has recorded 58 assists, and Molly Rybak has handed out 41 assists.

Admission to all Clemson home volleyball matches at Jervey Gym is free to the public.