Tigers Fall in Four to Virginia Tech

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Clemson Tigers battled back to force a fourth set, but ultimately fell to Virginia Tech, 3-1 (21-25, 22-25, 25-16, 24-26), in Blacksburg on Friday evening. With the loss, the Tigers drop to 13-10 (1-10 ACC), while the Hokies improve to 10-12 (2-9 ACC).

Virginia Tech took an early 7-3 advantage and maintained an even spread for most of the set. The Tigers cut into things with a four-point swing with kills from Mia Moore, Mia McGrath, Kate Hansen and Katherine Sandt. As the Hokies looked to close out the set, Clemson dug in with a combined block from Nil Okur and Ecem Aksoy, but VT claimed the opening set, 25-21.

The Hokies started the second like the first with an 8-4 lead, but Clemson went on an 11-3 run that started with a combined block by Okur and Sandt. Moore, Aksoy and McGrath contributed offensive points that had Clemson holding a 15-14 advantage at the media timeout. Both sides battled with Aksoy recording a kill and a joint block with Okur to tie the set at 21-all, but Virginia Tech took a two-set advantage after a 4-1 run.

Clemson dominated the third set that required VT to call an early timeout after trailing 10-4. The Tigers continued to push the tempo with kills from Khaya Gordon, Okur, McGrath and Hansen. The Hokies cut the lead down to four, but the Tigers went on a 5-0 run to claim the set after Moore recorded her 10th kill of the match, and Sandt added an ace for a 25-16 win.

The Hokies responded in the fourth with an early 8-2 lead. Sandt brought the Tigers back within range with two aces, while Okur and Gordon picked up a block to cut the spread down to one. The two programs then traded two-point stretches with one another until Hansen tied it at 19-all and Gordon tied it at 20-all. VT went on a 4-2 run to put them at match point. The Tigers battled back with kills from McGrath and Moore to tie things again at 24-all, but the Hokies followed with back-to-back points to take the set, 26-24, and the match.

Tiger Leaders/Highlights:

• Points: Mia McGrath – 19.5
• Kills: McGrath – 18
• Digs: McKenna Gildon & Claire Luoma – 13
• Assists: Katherine Sandt – 36
• Blocks: Nil Okur – 4
• Aces: Sandt – 3
• Okur clocked her 14th multi-block performance of the season to bring her total count to 59
• Hansen finished with a .409 hitting percentage – the 10th time in 2025 she has hit .400 or better
• Sandt picked up her 11th double-double with 36 assists and 12 digs
• Four Tigers finished with double-digit digs: Gildon, Luoma, Sandt and Addi Rains (12)

Up Next

The Tigers continue their road stretch on Sunday, Nov. 2 in Charlottesville, Va., with a matchup against Virginia. First service is scheduled for 1 p.m. on ACCNX.