CLEMSON, S.C. – In the 69th edition of the Palmetto Series matchup presented by the South Carolina Education Lottery, the Clemson Tigers (7-3) fell to the South Carolina Gamecocks (8-2) in three sets (32-34, 16-25, 23-25).
Sophomore Kennedy Wagner and junior Mia McGrath led the Tigers offensively. McGrath finished her eighth double-digit kill match of the season with 10 kills, notched 11 digs for her second consecutive double-double and fourth of the season. Wagner recorded double-digit kills for the second time this season after finishing with 13, one shy of her season-high. Freshman Neea-Maria Joki notched 12 kills and hit .370 with 15 points adding five total blocks.
Defensively, Clemson notched seven team blocks in comparison to South Carolina’s three behind Joki’s five, while graduate Indigo Young added four (all assisted) and sophomore Kate Hansen notched two. Devan Taylor finished with a team-high 23 digs for her fourth 20+ dig performance this season.
McGrath set the pace for the first set marathon, leading the Tigers with seven kills and an ace. Clemson, as a whole, hit for .276 with Joki, Wagner and Hansen each notching five plus kills. Taylor recorded double-digit digs and Audrey Armbruster chalked up an additional 21 assists during the extensive set that had the Gamecocks edging Clemson, 34-32. This was the highest scoring set for the Tigers since Sept. 20, 2013 when Clemson defeated Alabama 38-36.
South Carolina took control of the second set, hitting .429, with 15 kills, while the Tigers only combined for 11. Wagner led the charge with four kills, while Young, McGrath and Joki added two each, but it wasn’t enough as the Gamecocks took set two, 25-16.
Clemson and South Carolina traded points to open the third set. The Gamecocks attempted to push the pace similar to the second set, but Clemson continued to respond and evened things at 16-all. Clemson went on a three-point run to take the lead, but South Carolina kept pace to tie it back up at 22-22. Joki attempted to lead Clemson to the set win with a kill down the stretch, but the Tigers fell short, dropping set three, 25-23.
Up Next
The Tigers cap the nonconference slate on Saturday, Sept. 21 when they take on Furman in Greenville, S.C. Action is slated to begin at 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
