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Clemson Hangs on Against Charlotte

Clemson Hangs on Against Charlotte

CLEMSON, SC – The Charlotte 49ers walked into Jervey Gymnasium unintimidated by Clemson’s 3-0 record and the rowdy home crowd. The Niners (3-1) claimed the first set, 25-23, Clemson’s first dropped set of the year, before the Tigers stormed back to win the next three sets, 25-18, 26-24, 25-20 to move to 4-0 in their opening match of the Clemson Classic. Clemson used aggressive serving to the tune of 11 aces, while allowing only two in pushing past the 49ers, who entered at 3-0, and were trying for their longest win streak to start a season in school history. The win went down as No. 495 overall in the career of head Coach Jolene Jordan Hoover, and Charlotte clearly represented Clemson’s biggest challenge in the early season. Mo Simmons tied a career high with 16 kills and accounted for Clemson’s final four points of the match, including two straight aces to close. Simmons also had a solid night defensively, totalling 15 digs and four total blocks. Seven of her 16 kills came in the third set, where she accounted for 9.5 total points. Sandra Adeleye led all players with 17 kills, and hit .351 in the match, and had six kills in the final set. In the final two sets, she tallied ten kills in 17 swings to help Clemson overcome the strong push from the 49ers, who demonstrated excellent passing most of the night. Bianca Rouse led Charlotte with 13 kills and also had 18 digs. Sophomore Kristin Faust tallied a double-double for the second straight match, registering 10 kills and 16 digs. Faust was also 30-for-30 in serve receiving opportunities, match senior Natalie Patzin for the best in that category. Patzin also added a season-best 22 digs, ten of which came in the first-set loss. For the match, Clemson had 82 digs, and held the 49ers to .171 attacking percentage. The Tigers faired a little better, hitting .201 with 58 kills, including 18 in the fourth set. Charlotte showed early they were  up to the challenge, jumping out to a 9-4 lead on Clemson, and holding the five-point edge until 17-12. Clemson got it back to within one at 21-20, but couldn’t quite get over the hump, as Charlotte took the first set off Clemson this season. The second set was back and forth early before an 11-3 run gave Clemson a 19-13 edge. Charlotte fought back to within three at 21-18, but the Tigers rattled off four in a row, all on kills, to close out the set, 25-18, and tie the match. Set three was Tigers early, taking a 19-14 lead after Adeleye and Yaz combined on a block. The 49ers tallied the next four in a row to get within on. The Tigers reached set point at 24-21, but Carly Ochs had three straight kills to knot it at 24-24. Simmons was able to put down a clutch kill to sideout, and a 49er attack error sealed the set, 26-24. In the fourth set, Clemson jumped out to an early 10-4 lead behind several Charlotte errors. Charlotte fought those off and got to within one at 11-10 and again at 12-11. Brenner then found Adeleye on back-to-back kills to open a small lead, which the 49ers again closed to one. Ahead 16-15, Clemson rallied for five of six points to take a 21-16 lead off kills from Simmons. Charlotte again closed it to two, but Simmons found the floor for a kill and then had back-to-back aces, her only two of the match, to close play. East Tennessee State downed Chattanooga, 3-0, earlier in the day. Clemson will take on Chattanooga at 10:30 am on Saturday and East Tennessee State at 4:00 pm in trying to claim a second straight tournament victory.

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