CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Clemson Volleyball program tallied 13 team blocks against No. 25 North Carolina but ultimately fell in four sets (20-25, 25-22, 16-25, 22-25) on Friday evening. With the loss, Clemson moved to 8-14 (0-11 ACC), while North Carolina improved to 18-2 (10-1 ACC).
Clemson’s 13 team blocks were the second-most by the Tigers this season, trailing only the Kennesaw State match (14.0). Sophomore Kate Hansen and freshman Neea-Maria Joki controlled the pace at the net, finishing with one solo and six block assists each, with graduate Indigo Young following with five block assists. Senior libero Devan Taylor recored a team-high 15 digs, while redshirt freshman Katherine Sandt tallied her sixth double-double of the season with 12 digs and 29 assists. Sandt also added a season-high four aces to tie for the most aces by a Tiger in a single match in 2024. Offensively, Joki and senior Azyah Dailey led Clemson attackers with 10 kills each.
Joki led the Tigers in the opening set with five kills and a .500 hitting percentage. Young clocked a .667 hitting percentage with two kills, but it was the block that truly stuck out for the Tigers in the opening set. Clemson out blocked North Carolina, 4-0, behind the efforts of Hansen, who assisted on three, while Joki and Dailey added two assists each. Sandt provided the lone ace for Clemson as the Tigers battled back from an early deficit, but Clemson fell short in the opening set, 25-20.
The block stayed hot in the second set, as Clemson went on an 8-0 run that included three-consecutive points off assisted blocks from Joki. The freshman continued to push the tempo adding in two kills for an early 10-7 advantage. Behind the Tigers’ offense notching a .265 hitting percentage in set two, three kills from Kennedy Wagner, five from Joki and aces from Mia McGrath and Sandt, Clemson swung momentum in its favor. In a set that saw six lead changes and seven ties, Clemson came out on top, 25-22.
The Tar Heels came out strong to take the third set, 25-16, after snuffing the Clemson offense. Dailey led all Tiger attackers with five kills, but Clemson was only able to add one block throughout the set that proved to be a crucial missing piece for the Tigers. Taylor held the Clemson defense down with seven digs in the set alone to bring her match total to 13 for her 20th double-digit dig performance of the season.
In the fourth, the Tigers saw a spark from Hansen with two early kills. Taylor added an ace that helped contribute to a Clemson lead that spanned as much as four points. Dailey added two kills to bring her match total to 10, but the Tar Heels responded with a strong offense to take the lead. Sandt closed the gap for the Tigers with back-to-back aces to bring her match total to four to tie teammate Claire Luoma’s four aces against Loyola Chicago for most this season. The Tigers made a push to cut North Carolina’s lead down to two, but ultimately dropped the set, 25-22, and the match.
Up Next
Clemson returns to action on Sunday, November 3 at 1 p.m. when the Tigers take on Duke in Durham, N.C. on ACCNX.
