Clemson Defeats Virginia in Four Sets
The Clemson Tigers (14-10, 2-10 ACC) overcame an initial setback to beat the Virginia Cavaliers (10-12, 3-9 ACC) 3-1 on the road in Charlottesville. After losing the first set 22-25, Clemson won the next three sets 25-20, 25-19, and 28-26.
Match Highlights
- Junior transfer Khaya Gordon led Clemson with 16 kills.
- Mia McGrath and Mia Moore contributed 13 and 12 kills, respectively.
First Set
Virginia started strong, opening a five-point lead early on. The Tigers narrowed the gap to two points thanks to kills from Gordon, Moore, and McGrath. Virginia extended their advantage to five before media timeout. Despite a late charge—including an ace by Claire Luoma and a kill by Nil Okur—Virginia took the first set 25-22.
Second Set
Clemson responded with a quick three-point run, sparked by kills from McGrath and Gordon and a solo block by Kate Hansen. Defensive plays were crucial, with Okur adding two block assists alongside Moore and Gordon. The Tigers secured a five-point lead, forcing a Virginia timeout, and maintained it to win the set 25-20.
Third Set
Building on momentum, Clemson executed three- and four-point runs, including an ace from Luoma, to gain control and take the third set 25-19.
“The Tigers powered back to secure sets two, three and four to finish the weekend with a 3-1 victory on the road in Charlottesville.”
Author’s summary: Clemson showed resilience, turning around a first-set loss to win three straight sets and claim a solid 3-1 road victory over Virginia.