LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Senior libero Devan Taylor finished with 13 digs to move into second all-time for career digs at Clemson on Friday night, but the Tigers (8-5, 0-3 ACC) ultimately dropped a three-set match to No. 4 Louisville (11-2, 3-0 ACC). Taylor, who now has 1,529 career digs, surpassed 2024 Clemson Hall of Fame selection, Julie Rodriguez (1,523, 1993-96), to move up the ranks.
Adding to her digs on the night, Taylor also notched one ace and two assists. Freshman Neea-Maria Joki had two aces, while Lejla Sara Hadziredzepovic, Addi Rains and Katherine Sandt joined Taylor with one each. Junior Mia McGrath once again led the Tigers offensively with seven kills and added eight digs. Joki finished with a team-high 8.5 points, and in her first appearance of the year, Hadziredzepovic finished with seven points following four kills and two solo blocks. Kate Hansen rounded out the team leads with four blocks (one solo, three assisted).
Joki took charge for the Tigers in the opening set by leading the team with five points. She picked up three points off kills and added two aces, while fellow freshman Rains added an ace of her own. Azyah Dailey, Hansen and McGrath also tallied a point in the opening set, but the No. 4 Cardinals were able to take the set, 25-13.
The Clemson block was shutting things down at the net to open the second set as Hansen, Joki and Sandt put the Tigers on a 6-3 opening run. Hadziredzepovic picked up her first point at Clemson with an ace to extend Clemson’s lead to 8-4. Hadziredzepovic, Hansen, Dailey and McGrath kept the momentum going for Clemson racking up kills, but Louisville pulled back to tie it at 19-all, before taking the set, 25-22.
Behind McGrath, Joki and Hadziredzepovic, Clemson was able to keep pace with Louisville to open the third. The Cardinals opened things by going on a four-point run that Clemson attempted to catch with aces from Taylor and Sandt, but ultimately fell short as Louisville closed out the match on a 6-1 run to take the set, 25-17.
Up Next
The Tigers continue ACC road action on Sunday, Oct. 6 when Clemson takes on Notre Dame at 1 p.m. on ACCNX.
