Tigers Extend Win Streak with Five-Set Victory

CLEMSON, S.C. – Behind a career-night for middle hitter Kate Hansen, the Clemson Tigers improved to 10-0 after a five set (23-25, 25-22, 25-15, 21-25, 15-7) win against Georgetown (6-6) to open the 2025 Big Orange Bash. Hansen, who finished with a team-high 21 points, powered the Tigers to the longest winning streak since 2007 and continued the best start to a season since 1999.

The Tigers and the Hoyas split the first two sets with Georgetown pulling out the first set by outsourcing Clemson 6-3 in the final nine points of play. Similar to the previous games, Clemson strung together a .300+ hitting percentage in the opening, but the Hoyas finished with a .452 hitting percentage to take the advantage. The Tigers leveled the match after tying set two at 19-all. It was Clemson who outscored Georgetown 6-3 behind points from Kate Hansen, Mia McGrath, Katherine Sandt and Kennedy Wagner to make it even heading to the third.

The third set was all Clemson as the Tigers took a 10-5 lead behind an Addi Rains ace. Georgetown was forced to use both of its timeouts as Hansen notched her second ace of the match to push the advantage to seven. The Tigers closed out the set on a 10-7 run that included a set-point ace by McGrath to hold a 2-1 advantage. The Hoyas forced a fifth set after maintaining an advantage late in the fourth set after a handful of Tiger attack errors.

It was all Clemson to open the fifth as the Tigers jumped out to a 4-0 lead at the hands of Mia Moore and Nil Okur. This extended to 8-3 as the two programs switched sides following a solo block from McGrath. She added another solo block coming out of switch, and the Tigers sealed the win with a 6-3 run to overpower the Hoyas, 15-7. 

Tiger Leaders/Highlights:

• Points: Kate Hansen – 21 (career high)
• Kills: Kennedy Wagner & Mia McGrath – 15
• Digs: McKenna Gildon – 22
• Assists: Katherine Sandt – 52
• Blocks: Hansen – 7
• Aces: Sandt, Hansen & McGrath – 2
• The team finished with 14 blocks – the most in a five-set match since Sept. 19, 2024 against Kennesaw State
• Thursday night marked the fourth time Clemson has finished with 14+ blocks under Head Coach Jackie Simpson Kirr
• Hansen recorded five or more blocks in a single match for the 20th time in her collegiate career
• Hansen’s seven blocks tied her 2024 season-high and was the eighth time in her collegiate career with seven or more blocks
• Hansen finished with a career-highs in kills (14) and points (21)
• McGrath notched her fourth double-double of the season
• Sandt has recorded 40 or more assists for the fifth time this season and third consecutive match. This was also her second-ever match with over 50 assists.
• Sandt notched her fourth double-double this season and the 12th time in her career
• Wagner recorded her 500th career kill with her 13th kill of the night

Up Next

Clemson returns to action on Friday, Sept. 19 with two matches to conclude the Big Orange Bash. The Tigers open the day at 11 a.m. against Norfolk State before concluding the non-conference slate at 7 p.m. vs. Charleston Southern. Both matches are available to stream on ACCNX, and all home games inside Jervey Gym are free and open to the public.