Syracuse Tops @ClemsonVB in Four on Sunday

SYRACUSE, NY – The Clemson volleyball team fell to Syracuse, 3-1 (26-24, 25-21, 17-25, 25-21), on Sunday in the Women’s Building in Syracuse, NY, despite a career-high 28 kills from senior Mo Simmons. Clemson (11-10, 5-5 ACC) fell in its first match with the Orange (10-12, 5-5 ACC) as ACC foes.  The victory tipped the all-time series, 2-1, in Syracuse’s favor.  Clemson split the weekend road trip with a 3-0 win at Boston College on Friday, and will take a 5-5 league mark into two home matches this week with Virginia and Virginia Tech.  Setter Hannah Brenner led the Tigers to .255 hitting, tallying 43 assists, a career-high-tying 19 digs, seven kills, three aces, and three blocks. Libero Niki Collier tied a career-best with 16 digs, while Kristin Faust had 10 kills and 11 digs for her fifth double-double of season.  Simmons, who entered the match tops in the ACC and ninth in the nation at 4.61 kills per set, upped her to 4.72 per set with Sunday’s performance. It’s the ninth time this season she’s posted 20 or more kills.  The Tigers looked to be off to a great start, taking a 17-10 lead in the first set as Brenner and Simmons carried the offense. A 12-3 run, however gave the Orange a 22-20 lead. However, Brenner found Faust and Simmons during a short run and the Tigers were able to tie it at 24-24 before Syracuse took the next two points to clinch the set.  Clemson hit a solid .381 in the set, but the Orange were equally impressive, hitting .429.  Syracuse’s Silvi Uettara had nine of her team-high 18 kills In the second set as the Orange built and early lead, and hit .381 in the set.  Facing a 2-0 deficit, the Tigers came out of intermission, and opened up an 18-10 lead. The Orange pushed back to get within four at 19-15, but Leah Perri and Faust had kills to help halt the run. Clemson would go on to win, 25-17, and force a fourth set.  In the fourth, Syracuse opened up a 19-11 lead. Clemson fought off five match points, but ultimately fell, 25-21. Simmons had ten kills during the frame, her career-high for a single set.