TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – For the first time since 2010, the Clemson Tigers (18-14, 6-14 ACC) defeated the Florida State Seminoles (16-13, 10-10 ACC) after clinching a four-set match (21-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-20) on Friday afternoon. The win put a cap on the 2025 season for the Tigers and ended a 20-game losing streak against the Seminoles dating back to 2011. It also was the first victory for the Tigers in Tallahassee in 18 years after Clemson last defeated the Seminoles in 2007 in three sets.
With the win, the Tigers concluded a historic season with 18 wins, including a perfect 12-0 in non-conference play. It was the second time under Head Coach Jackie Simpson Kirr that the Tigers have finished with at least 18 wins, trailing only 2023 when Clemson finished the year with 19 wins after two NIVC victories.
Seniors Mia Moore and Mia McGrath powered the Tigers offensively, recording 20 and 19 kills, respectively. The duo both hit above .300 with Moore notching a .531 to balance her career-high kill count. McGrath concluded her Clemson career with her 18th double-double after adding a team-high 16 digs to her kill count. Kate Hansen joined the duo with 10 kills and five blocks, while Katherine Sandt finished with 46 assists, 12 digs and six blocks.
The Tigers hit .303 in the opening set led by McGrath hitting .455 with six kills and Moore hitting .667 with four kills. Sandt had a hand in all three of Clemson’s blocks in the first set, recording a solo block and assisting both Nil Okur and Hansen with one each throughout the remainder of the set. The Tigers had an advantage through a majority of the frame, but Florida State tied things at 19-all and then went on a 6-2 run to take the set, 25-21.
Clemson reclaimed the momentum in the second set as Moore, McGrath and Hansen pushed the tempo offensively. Okur and Sandt blocked additional attack attempts by the Seminoles, and Katie Hurta entered the match with two kills. The turning point for the Tigers was a five-point run that included an ace from McKenna Gildon that gave Clemson a 16-8 lead. Claire Luoma added an ace of her own down the stretch, and the Tigers took the set on a kill by Hansen.
In the third, the two programs traded serves through the first 12 combined points until Clemson went on a three-point run that included two kills by Moore and an ace by Gildon. The Tigers extended their lead to four points, before Moore and McGrath pushed it to six points with kills to make it 21-15. FSU trimmed the advantage to three, but a combined block by Sandt and Hansen kept the Tigers ahead, while a kill from Hurta sealed the set, 25-22.
Clemson maintained control in the fourth, taking an 11-6 lead behind kills from Moore, McGrath and Hansen and an ace by Sandt. The Tigers extended it to six points as Moore and McGrath continued to rack up kills, but FSU cut the advantage down to two. Sandt reclaimed the power with a kill followed immediately by her second ace of the set. An attack error by the Seminoles, and Moore’s 20th kill of the match, sealed the season finale victory for the Tigers.
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