Tiger Volleyball To Play Host to Miami and Florida State This Weekend

Sept. 28, 2006

CLEMSON, SC – The Clemson volleyball team will play host to the Miami Hurricanes and Florida State Seminoles this weekend for its first home ACC action. The Tigers (6-4, 1-1 ACC) will welcome Miami (4-8, 1-2 ACC) to Jervey Gym for a 7:00 pm match on Friday, Sept. 29. Clemson will then take on Florida State (9-3, 3-0 ACC) on Saturday at 4:00 pm.

Friday’s match against Miami will be the first Clemson volleyball contest to be video streamed over the Internet as part of the ACC Select package. Visit www.accselect.com for details. You can also access the broadcast by clicking on the Webcast link below the Gametracker link on the schedule section at www.clemsontigers.com. A single event will cost $3.99 or fans may purchase an All Event monthly viewing package for an introductory rate of $5.99. Fans may also follow the action via livestats by accessing the Clemson Athletics website.

Jeannette Abbott, a sophomore from Downers Grove, IL, boasts a team-best 162 kills, averaging 4.26 kills per game with a .240 hitting percentage. Fellow outside hitter Lia Proctor has totaled 103 kills in her rookie campaign. In the middle, Danielle Hepburn and Meghan Steiner have posted 104 and 74 kills, respectively, while also recording 101 total blocks between them. Hepburn’s 1.55 blocks per game average rank her 23rd in the nation.

Overall, Clemson is averaging 3.03 blocks per game, a mark that is listed 30th among Division I teams. The Tigers have totaled 561 kills with a .243 hitting percentage and are allowing their opponents to hit just .176.

Scouting the Hurricanes The Miami volleyball team brings a 4-8 overall record into Tigertown on Friday night, with a 1-2 mark in conference play. The Hurricanes fell to Florida State and Boston College last week before defeating two-time defending ACC champion Maryland by a 3-0 margin.

Frannie Savage leads the Miami attack with 189 kills on the year while also recording a team-best 15 service aces. Ciara Michel is also a crucial part of the Hurricane offense and defense, posting 120 kills and 63 total blocks in 48 games played. Setter Jill Robinson has tallied 421 assists for the 2006 season, while Ann Gallo leads the team with 138 defensive saves.

Clemson vs. Miami, The Series The Hurricanes and Tigers have met just five previous times on the volleyball court since 1980, with Clemson edging Miami, 3-2. The two team split a pair of five-game matches last sason, with each claiming the victory on its home court.

Scouting the Seminoles Florida State enters the second week of conference play on a three-match ACC winning streak that improved its overall record to 9-3. The Seminoles defeated conference foes Miami, Maryland and Boston College in the opening week of league play. They will face Georgia Tech on Friday night before traveling to Tigertown on Saturday.

Sarah Griffin leads the Florida State squad both offensively, with 140 kills, and defensively, with 43 total blocks. She has also posted 101 digs to rank second on the team. Summer Weissing leads the Seminoles in that category with 156 defensive saves.

Florida State boasts a .312 hitting percentage with 681 kills in 43 games played. The Seminoles have allowed their opponents just 504 kills on .168 hitting. They have also recorded 97 service aces and 95 total team blocks.

Clemson vs. Florida State, The Series The Tigers trail the Seminoles, 21-14, in the series but lead by a narrow 8-7 margin in matches played in Clemson, SC. The Tigers won a five-game match in Tallahassee, FL during the 2005 season, their fifth in 16 matches played on the Seminoles’ home court. However, Florida State defeated Clemson by a score of 3-1 at Jervey Gymnasium later in the year.