CLEMSON, S.C. – Freshman Neea-Maria Joki was named this week’s ACC Freshman of the Week, the conference office announced on Monday. The honor comes after Joki recorded 39 kills, 12 blocks, and 53.5 points to be named the Black & Gold Invitational All-Tournament Team over the weekend.
ACC Release
The Tampere, Finland, native has begun her collegiate campaign in dominant fashion with the second-highest total kill count for the Tigers with 86 through the previous weekend. She held a .349 hitting percentage over the three-match tournament and clocked 3.25 kills per set. The six-rotation player has also been a force in the service game with a team-high 15 aces on year, the highest for any freshman in the ACC and sixth-highest in the ACC, after adding a team-high eight last weekend. Joki has recorded double-digit kills in five of the eight matches that Clemson has played in and has hit above .300 in four of them. Over her eight starts, Joki has the third-highest average kills per set on the team with a 2.77 mark. During the Black & Gold Invitational, the freshman tied for a team-high 12 blocks (one solo, 11 assisted) for 1.00 per set and 4.46 points per set.
This is the 28th Rookie/Freshman of the Week honor that the Clemson Volleyball program has earned, and Joki becomes the 16th Tiger to earn the weekly honor.
Clemson returns to action on Thursday, September 19 at 7 p.m. against the Kennesaw State Owls in their home opener at the “New” Jervey Gym and Friday, September 20 at 6 p.m. against South Carolina in the Palmetto Series presented by the South Carolina Education Lottery.
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