Clemson Defeats Virginia in Four Sets
The Clemson Tigers (14-10, 2-10 ACC) dropped the first set against the Virginia Cavaliers (10-12, 3-9 ACC) but rallied to win the next three sets, finishing with a 3-1 road victory in Charlottesville. The set scores were 22-25, 25-20, 25-19, and an extended 28-26.
Match Highlights
- Junior transfer Khaya Gordon led Clemson with 16 kills.
- Mia McGrath and Mia Moore contributed 13 and 12 kills respectively.
- Virginia opened the first set with a five-point lead which Clemson narrowed to two before Virginia reclaimed a five-point advantage to close out the set 25-22.
Second Set Dynamics
Clemson responded quickly with three early points driven by McGrath and Gordon’s kills and a solo block by Kate Hansen. Defensive plays were crucial as Nil Okur, Moore, and Gordon secured multiple block assists, leading Clemson to a five-point lead and forcing a Virginia timeout.
"The Tigers maintained the lead with kills from McGrath and Okur before McGrath sealed the set, 25-20."
Third Set Momentum
The Tigers kept their momentum by building runs of three and four points, including the second ace of the day from Claire Luoma, which helped Clemson take control of the set and move towards victory.
Key Players Contributions
- Khaya Gordon: 16 kills
- Mia McGrath: 13 kills
- Mia Moore: 12 kills
- Claire Luoma: 2 aces and key plays in crucial moments
- Nil Okur: Multiple block assists and critical kills
- Kate Hansen: Solo block in second set
Clemson's resilience and strong defensive plays turned around an opening set loss into a confident 3-1 victory over Virginia.
Author's summary: Clemson overcame an early deficit with strong offensive and defensive efforts, securing a 3-1 road win against Virginia highlighted by key kills and pivotal blocks.