Volleyball Set to Host Clemson Classic

Sept. 13, 2011

2011 Clemson Classic Notes

CLEMSON, SC – The Clemson volleyball team will play host to the Clemson Classic this week as they welcome Furman (7-3) on Wednesday at 7:00 pm and Georgia Tech (6-3) on Friday at 7:00 pm. Georgia Tech and Furman will play on Thursday at 7:00 pm. All matches will take place in Jervey Gymnasium and admission is free.

Wednesday’s match will be Club Volleyball night, where club teams are encouraged to attend in clubs attire. Solid Orange Friday pits Clemson against Georgia Tech in the ACC season-opener, which will also be student appreciation day. The first 100 students will receive a Clemson Volleyball t-shirt, and students who attend will receive double frequent fan points.

Clemson’s match will be available on TigerCast live, with Brittany Fennell providing commentary. Livestats are available for all matches as well on ClemsonTigers.com.

Watch Clemson vs. Furman Live on TigerCast

Clemson and Furman have had an excellent rivalry recently. Michelle Young, the former Michelle Thieke, was a four-year letter-winner for Jolene Hoover from 1994-1997, and is still second on Clemson’s all-time list in assists. She was named to the ACC’s 50th Anniversary team as a player in 2002 as well.

Clemson holds a 35-1 record against the Paladins all-time, but the most recent meeting, in 2009, went to five sets. Additionally, the teams play often in the spring.

Each of the last six and seven of the past nine matchups between Clemson and Georgia Tech have gone to five sets. Last season, the teams split, with each winning on their home floor. Clemson holds a 33-23 lead in the all-time series.

Clemson enters the match riding a three-match winning streak after winning the College of Charleston Invitational with 3-0 mark. Alexa Rand was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, while Sandra Adeleye and Hannah Brenner were each named to the All-Tournament team.

Adeleye leads Clemson with a 3.49 kills per set average, and four other Tigers average more than two kills per set. She ranks first in the conference with a .422 hitting percentage and sixth in the ACC in kills. Rand will be in search of her 500th career kill this weekend, as she enters with 484 career kills, and is third in the ACC in hitting percentage and fifth in the league in blocking.

Quick Hitters:

• Furman head coach Michelle (Thieke) Young was a four-year starter for Jolene Hoover from 1994-97
• Clemson and Georgia Tech have played five straight five-set matches
• The Tigers have won three in a row overall after taking the College of Charleston Invitational last weekend
• The Tigers defeated South carolina (3-0) for the second straight year
• Alexa Rand was named the tournament MVP after tallying 36 kills and 11 blocks, while hitting .500
• Sandra Adeleye and Hannah Brenner were named to the all-tourney team as well
• Brenner leads the Tigers with 3 double-doubles this year
• Preseason All-ACC selection Sandra Adeleye was named MVP of the Big Orange Bash, while Alexa Rand and Mo Simmons were on the all-tourney team
• Mo Simmons was named to the Florida All-Tournament team after registering 25 kills and ten blocks
• Defensively, Clemson is 4th in the ACC in blocking and third in hitting percentage allowed
• Adeleye tied her career-high with 23 kills against Jacksonville
• Rand had a career-high 18 kills against C of C
• Head Coach Jolene Jordan Hoover is in her 19th season as Clemson’s head coach, and her 385 wins as an ACC head coach rank third in ACC history
• The Tigers have six matches against teams in who are currently ranked in the the AVCA poll, including #13 USC, #7 Florida, #20 Miami, & #23 Duke