Volleyball Falls To Kentucky In Big Orange Bash Finale

Sept. 3, 2005

The winner of the 2005 Big Orange Bash came down to the final game between host Clemson and the Kentucky Wildcats, as both teams entered the 5:00 match 2-0 for the weekend. The Wildcats prevailed in three hard-fought games to claim the tournament title.

Kentucky’s Amy Kaplan was named the Big Orange Bash tournament Most Valuable Performer after posting 25 kills and a .360 hitting percentage for the weekend. Joining her on the all-tournament team were Leigh Marcum and Queen Nzenwa of Kentucky, Brittany Ross and Anna Vallinch of Clemson, Heather Ashley of Connecticut and Meredith Harmon of Western Carolina.

In the final match of the day, Kentucky took the lead over Clemson in the first game at 4-2 and never looked back. The Tigers kept the score close until the Wildcats’ Julie Gagnon served eight straight points to give her team a 24-12 advantage. Kentucky won the game by a score of 30-18. Clemson fought hard in the second game as libero Brittany Ross led all hitters with 14 kills for the Tigers.

Clemson won its first match of the day over Western Carolina in just over an hour on Saturday afternoon. In the three-game victory (30-18, 30-10, 30-22), the team hit .409 with 49 kills while holding the Catamounts to a negative .068 percentage. Clemson also had 11 total team blocks and 14 service aces, led by Meghan Stanton’s five. Freshman Jeannette Abbott had 18 of the team’s 49 kills while hitting a remarkable .577 percentage.

Clemson started out slow, trailing 14-13 in the first game before scoring seven straight points to take a 20-14 lead. The Tigers then scored 10 of the last 13 points for the game one win. Clemson jumped out to an early 11-4 lead and allowed the Catamounts just 10 points in game two. The Tigers scored their final two points of the third game off of two Western Carolina errors. Meredith Harmon led the Catamounts with eight kills.

In the first match of the day, Kentucky easily handled Connecticut, winning in three games (30-24, 30-25, 30-22). The Wildcats’ Ashlee Fischer led all hitters with 16 kills and a .609 hitting percentage. Queen Nzenwa added 10 kills for Kentucky (.471). The Wildcats hit .330 as a team with seven aces and seven total team blocks. Heather Ashley recorded 10 kills for the Huskies.

Connecticut and Western Carolina played in the third match of the day, with the Huskies winning in three games. Connecticut improved to 1-2 for the tournament, while the Catamounts fell to 0-3 in the weekend event. The Huskies’ Megan Crawley had the kill-high for the match with 16, while Western Carolina was led again by Meredith Harmon with eight.

Clemson will travel to Athens, GA on Wednesday, Sept.7 to face the University of Georgia Bulldogs at 7:00 PM. The Tiger return home on Tuesday, Sept.13 as they host South Carolina at 7:00 PM for their One Clemson/Solid Orange Event.

2005 Big Orange Bash All-Tournament Team/b> Megan Crawley, Connecticut Meredith Harmon, Western Carolina Leigh Marcum, Kentucky Queen Nzenwa, Kentucky Brittany Ross, Clemson Anna Vallinch, Clemson