Aug. 23, 2007

CLEMSON, SC - The Tiger volleyball squad will open its 2007 season on Saturday, Aug. 25 at the Mississippi State Microtel Classic in Starkville, MS. Clemson is slated to play Arkansas-Little Rock at 1:00 pm (EST) at the Newell-Grissom Building and then take on Murray State at 5:00 pm.

The Tigers will face the host Bulldogs at 2:30 pm on Sunday afternoon in the tournament's finale. Livestats will be available for all three matches by clicking here to access the Mississippi State athletic website.

Clemson returns all six starters, plus libero Didem Ege, for its 2007 campaign. The Tigers are led by honorable mention AVCA All-Americans Jeannette Abbott and Danielle Hepburn, while seniors Leslie Mansfield and Meghan Steiner bring a wealth of experience and leadership. Rounding out the starting court are sophomores Kelsey Murphy, a 2006 ACC All-Freshman selection, and Lia Proctor.

Scouting the Field
Of Clemson's three opponents for the first weekend of play, only one has been a prior competitor in the Tigers' volleyball history.

Clemson and Mississippi State have met just twice on the court with the Tigers claiming both contests. The first was a 2-0 victory in Columbia, SC during the 1981 season, while the second was a five-game battle at the Southern Methodist Tournament in Dallas, TX 10 years ago.

The Bulldogs return four starters and their libero from a team that won 17 overall matches and a school-record eight in SEC play.

The Tigers' match against Arkansas-Little Rock will be the first meeting in history between the two schools. The Trojans welcome back 10 players for the 2007 season, including All-Sun Belt Conference second-team honoree Amila Barakovic.

The Clemson-Murray State match-up will also be a program first. The Racers return four starters in addition to their starting libero from a team that posted a 19-8 record in 2006 and finished third in the Ohio Valley Conference.