Tigers Defeat Connecticut 3-1 In Big Orange Bash Action Friday Night

Sept. 2, 2005

CLEMSON, SC – The Clemson volleyball team was victorious in its first match of the 2005 season, defeating the Connecticut Huskies by a score of 3-1 (22-30, 31-29, 30-26, 30-26), in day one action of the Big Orange Bash. Sophomore Brittany Ross led the Tigers with 16 kills and senior Meghan Stanton hit a career-high .478. Stanton tied her career best with 13 kills and sophomore Meghan Steiner posted a career high with 11. Freshman Jeannette Abbott also added 12 for the Tigers.

“It was a big win to open with at home,” Head Coach Jolene Jordan-Hoover said. “We stayed with them until in the first game until 20 and let it slip away. I was proud that the team came back and closed it out in four.”

The Huskies claimed game one, 30-22, after taking nine of the last 11 points scored. Clemson then responded by winning games two, three and four for the victory. The Tigers trailed for much of the second game before taking their first lead at 29-28. After UConn tied the score at 29, Clemson won its final two points on a kill by Ross and an ace by Sue Eckman.

In the third game, Connecticut held the advantage only three times before the Tigers took a 29-25 lead. Stanton then had one of her 13 kills on an assist from setter Courtney Lawrence to end the game. Clemson won the final game and the match with Ross’ 16th kill.

Freshman Danielle Hepburn also turned in a solid performance in her first game as a Tiger, contributing two solo blocks and three block assists to the team’s 12 total blocks. The Tigers also recorded 11 service aces as Stanton, Lawrence and libero Anna Vallinch each had three.

The Huskies’ Megan Crawley led all hitters with 19 kills and Heather Ashley added 15.

In other day one Big Orange Bash play, the Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Western Carolina Catamounts by a score of 3-0 (30-23, 30-12, 30-24). Danielle Wallace led all hitters with 15 kills, hitting an impressive .619 for the match. As a team, the Wildcats hit .494 while holding Western Carolina to a .163 percentage.

Day two of the Big Orange Bash will resume on Saturday at 9:30 AM as Kentucky and Connecticut take to the court. The Tigers’ first game will be at 12:00 noon and Clemson will play in the final match of the tournament at 5:00 PM. Livestats will be available for Clemson matches on clemsontigers.com