CLEMSON, S.C. – The Clemson Volleyball program (8-4, 0-1 ACC) welcomed 1,235 fans into Jervey Gym on Friday evening for a match against top-ranked Pitt (11-0, 1-0 ACC). The Tigers fell in three sets (21-25, 15-25, 13-25).
Clemson was led offensively by junior Mia McGrath and sophomore Kennedy Wagner, who clocked nine and seven kills, respectively. McGrath led the team with 10 points after also tallying an ace. The Tigers finished with five total blocks, with freshman Neea-Maria Joki having one solo and three assisted. Graduate Indigo Young also added three blocks, all assisted. Both Katherine Sandt and Audrey Armbruster finished with 12 assists, while Devan Taylor had a team-high 11 digs.
The Panthers strung together an opening run to take an early 10-5 lead, but the Tigers pushed back following a timeout to go on an 8-4 run that forced Pitt to call timeout with only a one-point advantage. Clemson continued to push the tempo to tie it at 15-all, but Pitt strung together three kills and an ace to move ahead. The Tigers closed the gap back down to one point after Neea-Maria Joki had a solo block and Indigo Young combined to stop things at the net for another block, but Pitt closed out the set with three points to win, 25-21.
Similar to the opening set, Pitt took an early lead. A kill from Azyah Dailey and a combined block from Joki and Young spurred the Tigers midway through the set, but it was three kills from Kennedy Wagner that shined down the stretch for the Tigers. Dailey and Young combined for one additional block in the set, but Pitt took a two-set advantage with a 25-15 win.
Mia McGrath and Mia Moore tallied kills for the Tigers in the third set with hopes to pull back into the match. Wagner added two kills of her own, and both Moore and McGrath clocked additional kills for the Tigers late in the set, but Clemson ran out of steam as the No. 1 Pitt Panthers closed out the match with a 25-13 set win.
Up Next
The Tigers return home to Jervey Gym to open ACC action on Sunday, Sept. 29 when Clemson hosts No. 23 SMU at 1 p.m. on ACCNX. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to secure a seat. For more information on parking, entrance, admission and more, visit here.
