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Tigers Mount Big Comeback for 3-2 Win over Virginia Tech

Tigers Mount Big Comeback for 3-2 Win over Virginia Tech

CLEMSON, S.C. – Graduate Haleigh Hampton’s 20 kills propelled the Clemson volleyball team to a come-from-behind, 3-2, (28-26, 27-29, 19-25, 25-21, 15-11) victory over Virginia Tech on Friday in Jervey Gym. Clemson (12-5, 1-3 ACC) trailed in the match, 2-1, but stormed back to win the fourth and fifth sets to secure the victory over the Hokies (8-9, 1-3 ACC) and improve to 16-8 all-time against Virginia Tech.

Hampton’s 20 kills were the second-most in her career, trailing only the 21 she compiled as a freshman at Long Beach State in 2010. Hampton, who graduated from LBSU in May and joined the Tigers for her final season, hit .333 as well.

The Tigers racked up 14.0 blocks in the match, led by senior middles Beta Dumancic and Karis Watson, who added six apiece. Watson also added 11 kills and hit .500, and accounted for 14.0 points in the match.

Clemson showed great resolve in the first set after Virginia Tech erased a three-point Tiger advantage and tied the set at 24-24. The teams traded the next four points before Leah Perri had a block and a kill to close the frame, 28-26.

The Hokies claimed the second set and tied the match after again erasing three Clemson set points. Virginia Tech stormed out to a 19-11 lead in the third set and withstood a late Tiger run that cut the lead to three, but went on to take a 2-1 lead with a 25-19 set win. The Hokies hit .536 in the frame with 16 kills against just one error.

The momentum changed in the fourth set, as the Tigers opened up a five point lead and held off a Hokie rally to force a fifth set, 25-21.

The fifth set was extremely tight, with ties coming at 1-1, 3-3, 6-6, 7-7, 8-8, 9-9 and 10-10. However, Clemson finally broke free behind a Perri kill, and a kill and block from Hampton. Virginia Tech’s 19th service error of the night sealed the match.

The Tigers return to the court on Sunday, as they take on Georgia Tech at 3 p.m. in Jervey Gym.

WATCH: Match point from our hard-fought 3-2 comeback win over Virginia Tech! #SolidOrange http://t.co/tlXOWuBRYs

— Clemson Volleyball (@ClemsonVB) October 11, 2014

Hampton’s 20 kills lead Tigers to BIG comeback in five!! What a night! Thank you, fans! pic.twitter.com/Zc4TZjlLDu

— Clemson Volleyball (@ClemsonVB) October 11, 2014

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