CLEMSON, S.C. – Clemson Volleyball welcomed fans back into Jervey Gym for the official reopening of Jervey since undergoing renovations following the 2023 season in riveting fashion with a five-set reverse sweep, the second of Head Coach Jackie Simpson Kirr’s tenure with the Tigers. The Clemson Tigers (7-2) celebrated the reopening of Jervey by battling back to defeat the Kennesaw State Owls (3-7) (20-25, 21-25, 25-19, 25-23, 15-8) on Thursday evening.
Junior Mia McGrath led the Tigers offensively, recording her seventh double-digit kill match of the season with 13 kills and also added 12 digs for her third double-double of 2024. Sophomore Kennedy Wagner and recently crowned ACC Freshman of the Week Neea-Maria Joki each had nine kills on the night with Wagner hitting .333 and Joki showing her versatility with five total blocks (one solo, four assisted). Indigo Young was a versatile threat on the court as the graduate transfer hit .350, added 11.5 points and recorded six total blocks (one solo, five assisted).
Defensively, the Tigers held a block party with seven total solo blocks – four of which came in the third set. The seven solo blocks recorded is the most since the 2021 season when they had seven against Wake Forest (Sept. 26). Five different Tigers notched solo blocks with Kate Hansen leading the way with three solo blocks. Senior Devan Taylor added 26 digs to her collection, her third 25+ dig effort on the season, while Audrey Armbruster (15), McGrath and Claire Luoma (11) had double-digit digs in Clemson’s 95-dig performance. Armbruster rounded out the stat leaders with her third-consecutive double-double with a team-high 32 assists.
The Tigers dropped the first two sets against the Owls after Kennesaw State by a combined nine points before responding in the third. With the game on the line, Clemson returned to the court for the third set and clocked four solo blocks behind the efforts of Young, Armbruster, Hansen and Joki. Young powered the defense in the third set adding two block assists, while Joki and Armbruster added aces to push Clemson to the set win.
Wagner took control of the fourth set going 5-for-9 with only one error for a .444 set hitting percentage, six digs and one solo block for a team-high six points. Hansen added 3.5 points behind two kills and two blocks, while McGrath added to her kill count with three. Joki rounded out the group that capitalized on the Owls’ negative hitting percentage with two block assists and one kill to force a fifth and final set.
With the game on the line, Clemson came out firing to take a 6-2 lead. The Tigers never slowed down, hitting .333 during the deciding set while grabbing aces from Luoma and McGrath. Hansen recorded her third solo block of the night, with Wagner notching another trio of kills in order to decide the set and match, 15-8.
Up Next
The Tigers continue action in Jervey Gym when they welcome South Carolina to town for the Palmetto Series matchup presented by the South Carolina Education Lottery on Friday, Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. on ACCNX. The match will also serve as Clemson’s Alumni Night, where the Tigers will welcome back over 40 former players to Jervey.
Fans are encouraged to get to the match early on Friday night as Clemson celebrates the opening of Jervey Gym and Alumni Weekend with a ceremonial first serve from alumna Karis Watson (2014) prior to the match. Fans can learn more about parking, where to enter, free admission and more by clicking here.
