CLEMSON, S.C. – The Tigers improved to 9-0 to continue their undefeated campaign following a five-set (25-15, 25-13, 20-25, 24-26, 16-14) win against Wofford (2-5) on Saturday afternoon. The win also makes Clemson 6-0 inside Jervey Gym for the best start at home since the Tigers were 7-0 in 2021 – Head Coach Jackie Simpson Kirr’s inaugural season at the helm of the program.
Clemson started Saturday’s match in a different rotation for the first time since the South Carolina match on Aug. 31 and capitalized on the offensive prowess of Kate Hansen and Mia McGrath, who each had three kills early, to lead the team. Alongside a .353 hitting percentage and numerous errors by the Terriers, the Tigers were able to take a 10-point advantage that led to a 25-15 set victory.
Set two saw both teams trading points until redshirt sophomore Katherine Sandt stepped up to the service line. She recorded two aces within a three-point span that was broken up by a solo block from Kennedy Wagner to force Wofford to call timeout. Clemson extended its lead to 12 off a solo block from Nil Okur and kills from Wagner and Hansen to clinch the two-set advantage, 25-13.
The Terriers responded in the third set by taking a four-point advantage that had Clemson using both of its timeouts early. The Tigers cut the spread down to two with kills and blocks from Sandt, Wagner, Okur and Mia Moore, but Wofford forced another set. In the fourth, neither side was able to string together more than two points trading kills for the entirety of the set. The Tigers gained the edge at set point, but Wofford answered with three-consecutive points to send things to five.
The fifth started much like the fourth, with both programs trading points. The Tigers took the advantage following a kill from Okur and an ace from Wagner, but the Terriers followed with an ace of their own and capitalized on Clemson service errors to hold the one-point lead as the two programs switched sides. McGrath came out of the switch and racked up a kill and two solo blocks to give the Tigers a two-point edge. Wofford strung together four points to regain the advantage, but Clemson leveled it at 13-all behind a solo block and ace at the hands of Hansen. The score worked its way to 14-14, but Wagner closed out the set for Clemson with three-consecutive kills for the 16-14 win.
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Up Next
The Tigers return to Jervey Gym next week for the Big Orange Bash when they welcome Georgetown, Norfolk State and Charleston Southern to town. Clemson will begin action on Thursday, Sept. 18 against Georgetown at 7 p.m. on ACCNX. All matches inside Jervey Gym are free and open to the public.
