NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Clemson Volleyball team had nine different Tigers score a point on Sunday afternoon, but it wasn’t enough as Notre Dame took the match, 3-0 (17-25, 17-25, 23-25). Following the loss, Clemson moves to 8-7 overall (0-4 ACC), while Notre Dame improves to 9-4 (2-2 ACC).
Freshman pin attacker Lejla Sara Hadziredzepovic had another strong outing for the Tigers by leading the team with 15 points, all from kills. Junior Mia McGrath followed with 8.5 points behind eight kills and one block assist. She also added 11 digs. Defensively, Azyah Dailey clocked three block assists, while libero Devan Taylor notched 18 digs.
The Fighting Irish snagged an early advantage that the Tigers had to battle back from in the opening set. Four kills from Hadziredzepovic and three from McGrath inched Clemson back into the set. The tides looked to turn as sophomore Kate Hansen tallied an ace, and graduate Indigo Young followed with a kill and solo block, but Notre Dame went on a run following a timeout to take the set, 25-17.
Clemson looked to respond in the second as McGrath and Dailey notched a crucial block assist. The Tigers’ offense came alive with kills from Young, Hadziredzepovic and Katherine Sandt that forced Notre Dame to call timeout with the score tied at 12-all. Clemson looked to continue to push the tempo with kills from Hansen and McGrath, but Notre Dame pulled away to take the second set, 25-17.
To add a new look in the third, Clemson switched up its lineup to add Kate Simington and Mia Moore to the rotation, both of which tallied kills within the first nine points the Tigers scored. Similar to the first two sets, the Fighting Irish were able to extend their lead with a five-point scoring run, but Clemson was able to pull back within two following a five-point run of its own highlighted by an ace from Taylor and two kills from Hadziredzepovic. Despite battling back, Notre Dame took the set, 25-23, and the match.
Up Next
The Tigers return to Jervey Gym next week as they welcome in Virginia on Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. for the Mental Health Awareness night, before hosting Virginia Tech on Sunday, Oct. 13 at 1 p.m. for the Dig Pink match.
