ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop volleyball team will continue its run through early-season tournaments this weekend when it heads south to Columbia, SC to take part in the Carolina Clash hosted by the University of South Carolina.
The Eagles will start the two-day event Friday at 4:30 p.m. against the Blazers of Alabama-Birmingham. Saturday, Winthrop will meet the Clemson Tigers at 1:30 p.m. and the host Gamecocks at 7:30 p.m.
Winthrop goes into the weekend with an overall record of 3-4 after dropping all three of its contests last weekend at the Wake Forest Invitational.
The 2012 squad is very young for the Eagles and as head coach Julie Torbett has noted, the team is “learning under fire,” but a lack of consistent senior leadership has limited the success of the Eagles so far this year.
Junior Stephanie Palmer and sophomore Jennica Mullins have led Winthrop offensively so far this season, having totaled 59 and 56 kills respectively. Palmer also has recorded 147 assists and with Jessica Codato being another able setter, it has allowed Palmer to also work strong offensively.
Defensively, Catherine Brusie leads the team with 101 digs. Freshman Amy Zimmer, the Big South Freshman of the Week, leads the team in blocks with 26 while Mullins has also added 25.
Alabama-Birmingham enters the tournament with a 4-4 overall record and are currently on a three-game winning streak, defeating Eastern Kentucky and Buffalo at the Notre Dame Shamrock Invitational before defeating North Georgia Tuesday in the Blazers' home opener.
UAB has been led offensively by Sam Serley who has tallied 78 kills this season, a .327 hitting percentage and also leads the team with 44 total blocks. Alison Woods leads the Blazers with 183 assists while Rachel Fairbacks is on top in digs with 151.
This will be only the fourth all-time meeting between the Eagles and the Blazers. Winthrop holds an overall 2-1 record against UAB, but the Blazers won the last meeting in 2002.
Winthrop starts Saturday against the Clemson Tigers who come into the weekend with a 6-1 overall record. The Tigers grabbed wins over Charlotte, UT-Chattanooga and East Tennessee State at the Clemson Classic over the weekend, but dropped their first match of the season to Furman on Tuesday.
Moneisha Simmons has led Clemson at the net, totaling 85 kills and a .325 hitting percentage. She also leads the team in blocks with a total of 23. Hannah Brenner leads the Tigers with 261 assists while Natalie Patzin leads the squad with 103 digs. Clemson has limited its opponents to only a .173 hitting percentage this season.
Clemson and Winthrop met last season when the Tigers defeated the Eagles 3-1. Clemson holds the all-time record over the Eagles 25-11.
The Eagles will close the Carolina Clash against the host Gamecocks. South Carolina comes into the tournament undefeated with an 8-0 record, having dropped only three sets in eight matches. Over the weekend, the Gamecocks picked up victories over West Virginia, George Mason, Niagara and Navy.
Juliette Thevenin has been leading the Gamecocks offensively, totaling 98 kills and a .340 hitting percentage through eight contests. Taylor Bruns leads South Carolina with 194 assists and Paige Wheeler leads in digs with 116. The Gamecocks have forced opponents into 147 errors and have limited teams to only a .143 hitting percentage.
Following the Carolina Clash, the Eagles will return home on September 14-15 to host the Winthrop Classic. Winthrop will welcome North Carolina A&T, Mercer, North Florida and Western Carolina to the Winthrop Coliseum for the tournament.
