Clemson Sweeps Furman to Conclude Nonconference Slate

GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Clemson Volleyball program finished the nonconference slate of the 2024 schedule behind a three-set victory (25-16, 25-22, 25-20) against the Furman Paladins on Saturday afternoon. The win pushes the Tigers to 8-3 on the year, while the Paladins fall to 6-5.

The Tigers were led by freshman Neea-Maria Joki tallying 16 kills with a .462 hitting percentage. Sophomore Kennedy Wagner added 13 kills, while sophomore McKenna Gildon led the Tigers at the service line with three aces. Joki added two aces with Audrey Armbruster and Devan Taylor each adding one to bring Clemson’s total to seven in the match.

Defensively, Indigo Young and Azyah Dailey each clocked a solo block, while Kate Hansen led the way with three total blocks (all assisted). Taylor finished with a team-high 19 digs, and Armbruster clocked a double-double with 11 digs and 38 assists over the three-set match.

Clemson hit its groove early in the opening frame after the Tigers strung together four different scoring runs of three points while limiting Furman to only one-point responses. Behind the efforts of Joki (.625) and Wagner (.600), Clemson posted a .316 hitting percentage with 16 kills. Joki added two aces, with an additional one from Gildon to propel the Tigers to a 25-16 set win.

In the second set, the Paladins were the team that string together big scoring runs to take a 14-7 advantage. After calling timeout, the Tigers pulled within one after Young notched a solo block and kill, while Gildon added her second ace of the match and Joki added two kills. Clemson claimed its first lead of the second set following an ace from Taylor. The Tigers finished the set on a 9-7 run to take the set 25-22 and head to the third with a 2-0 advantage.

Similar to the first set, Clemson was able to get in a rhythm clocking consecutive points to take the early 9-4 lead. Dailey helped keep the Tigers on pace tallying three kills, while Gildon and Joki assisted with an ace and two kills, respectively, at the halfway point. Furman pulled within two points before Clemson was able to finish the set and match on an 8-5 run to secure the set, 25-20, and win the match.