ATLANTA, Ga. – The Clemson Tigers hung with the Georgia Yellow Jackets but ultimately dropped a three-set match (19-25, 21-25, 24-26) on Friday evening in Atlanta. Following the loss, the Tigers fall to 16-12 (4-12 ACC), while the Yellow Jackets improve to 15-10 (10-6 ACC).
The Tigers opened the match with a strong defensive presence as Kate Hansen and Khaya Gordon combined for a block. Mia McGrath, Nil Okur and Gordon added to Clemson’s point total with kills, and Mia Moore notched two of her own, but the Yellow Jackets maintained an advantage that led to a 25-19 set win.
Clemson took the lead in the second set behind a joint block by Gordon and Okur and aces by Claire Luoma and McKenna Gildon. Moore, Hansen and Katherine Sandt joined the block party, while McGrath and Moore added kills as the Tigers and Georgia Tech traded scoring runs. McGrath added the third ace of the set to force GT to call timeout with the set tied 20-all, but the Yellow Jackets went on a 5-1 run to take the set, 25-21.
Hansen, Gordon, Okur and Moore got the Tigers back into the swing of things in the third by putting Clemson on a 6-3 lead off kills. McGrath added her second ace of the match, and Hansen recorded two kills and a block to put the Tigers up by three. Georgia Tech evened things at 15-all, but Okur and Moore notched kills to keep the advantage with Clemson. The Yellow Jackets kept pace and tied the set at 24-24 after Okur and Moore blocked a ball at the net. Georgia Tech went on to score off back-to-back kills to take the set and match.
Tiger Leaders/Highlights:
Up Next
The Tigers return to Jervey Gym next Friday, Nov. 21 when they welcome Notre Dame to town at 6 p.m. on ACCNX. Action continues in Jervey Gym on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 1 p.m. when Clemson hosts Louisville on Senior Day.
