Sept. 2, 2006

Final Stats

Clemson, S.C. - The Western Carolina volleyball team concluded play in the Clemson Big Orange Bash with a 3-0 (30-20, 30-15, 30-18) loss to South Carolina, on Saturday afternoon at Jervey Gymnasium. The win for the Gamecocks was their sixth-straight, which included four wins in the tournament to go unbeaten to claim the tournament championship.

WCU freshman libero, Liz Rondone, was name to the Big Orange Bash all-tournament team following the match. Rondone recorded 79 digs over the four matches of the two-day tournament, an average of 5.27 digs per game. The Bloomington, Ill., recorded double-digit digs in each match to lead the Catamounts.

"I am proud of the way the team fought today against a very good South Carolina team. We were able to get some touches on their hitters and we never quit," said head coach Stephanie Dragan. "I was happy that Lizzy was named to the all-tournament team - she definitely earned it with the way she played for us this weekend."

Against USC, Western (1-7) was led by senior Heather Koontz with nine kills while junior Meredith Harmon added six. Freshman Katie Hennessey dished out 22 assists and Rondone was the lone Catamount to reach double-figures with 14 digs.

The Gamecocks (7-1) used nine-straight points to break open a close game one, turning a 12-10 advantage into 21-10 edge en route to the 30-20 win. Western fought off three game points before a dug ball rebounded off the Jervey Gym ceiling - which is in play - and it fell between Rondone and Hennessey.

In game two, South Carolina raced to a 4-0 lead and never looked back with Western closing to within six on two occasions, but never could pull any closer. At one point during the second game, the Catamounts had five freshmen on the floor with senior Krista Neumann representing the only upper classman. USC closed out the match by scoring points in bunches in game three, including eight-straight at one point, to win 30-18.

The Gamecocks were led by senior Shonda Cole, who was named the Big Orange Bash tournament MVP. She finished with a match-high 16 kills on a .577 attack percentage. Senior Lynae Vanden Hull was the only other player to reach double-figures, tallying 11 kills with just one error on 17 total attacks for a match-high .588 attack percentage.

Western returns to action in one week, visiting Morehead State in Morehead, Ky., for the Comfort Inn Invitational. The Catamounts will face Morehead at 7:00 pm on Friday, Sept. 8 and battle the United States Air Force Academy and Central Arkansas on Saturday, Sept. 9.

Big Orange Bash All-Tournament Team

Shonda Cole, MVP

Didem Ege, Clemson
Danielle Hepburn, Clemson
Meesha Jackson, Tennessee State
Jessica Oldenburg, Charlotte
Liz Rondone, Western Carolina
Belita Salters, South Carolina
Iris Santos, South Carolina