Clemson Defeats Virginia in Four Sets
The Clemson Tigers (14-10 overall, 2-10 ACC) lost the first set to the Virginia Cavaliers (10-12 overall, 3-9 ACC) but bounced back strongly to win the next three sets and secure a 3-1 victory on the road in Charlottesville. The final scores were 22-25, 25-20, 25-19, and 28-26.
Key Players and Performances
- Junior transfer Khaya Gordon led Clemson with 16 kills.
- Mia McGrath and Mia Moore contributed 13 and 12 kills, respectively.
Match Highlights
Virginia started the match with an early surge, creating a five-point lead. Clemson narrowed the gap thanks to kills from Gordon, Moore, and McGrath. Virginia held onto their advantage at the media timeout, finishing the first set 25-22 despite Clemson cutting the lead to one with an ace by Claire Luoma and a kill by Nil Okur.
In the second set, Clemson quickly took control with three consecutive points from kills by McGrath and Gordon and a solo block by Kate Hansen. Blocked shots played a crucial role, as Okur, Moore, and Gordon combined for multiple blocks, building a five-point lead and forcing Virginia to take a timeout. Clemson held steady to close the set 25-20.
The Tigers maintained their momentum into the third set, stringing together runs of three to four points, highlighted by Luoma's second ace of the match, to take the lead convincingly.
"Blocks proved to be the name of the game in the second as Okur tacked on two block assists alongside Moore and Gordon to take a five-point lead and force Virginia to call timeout."
The strong teamwork and defensive plays helped Clemson secure the victory after a challenging start.
Author’s Summary
Clemson overcame an early deficit through powerful blocks and consistent kills, winning three straight sets to defeat Virginia 3-1 on the road.