Clemson Heads To Minnesota For Diet Coke Classic

CLEMSON, S.C. – The Clemson Volleyball team (5-4, 0-0 ACC) hits the road for the conclusion of its non-conference slate this weekend as the Tigers head to University of Minnesota’s Diet Coke Classic (Sept 19-20) in Maturi Pavilion. There, Clemson is set to face seventh-ranked Minnesota (4-2, 0-0 Big Ten) on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. (ET), which is scheduled to stream on BTN+. The Gophers recently knocked off then-No. 1 Stanford, 3-1, on Sept. 14 at the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge on the campus of Penn State University. On Friday, the Tigers will take on Oral Roberts (4-8, 0-0 Summit League) at 6 p.m. (ET) to wrap up their non-conference schedule.

Match 1
Who: Clemson at #7 Minnesota
When: Thursday, Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. (ET)
Where: Maturi Pavilion // Minneapolis, Minn.
Series Info: 0-1 all-time
Watch: BTN+
Live Stats: SIDEARM Sports

Match 2
Who: Clemson vs. Oral Roberts
When: Friday, Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. (ET)
Where: Maturi Pavilion // Minneapolis, Minn.
Series Info: 1-0 all-time
Live Stats: SIDEARM Sports

Notes:

• Clemson takes on No. 7 Minnesota for the second time in program history Thursday. The first and only time the two teams squared off was in 1982, Clemson’s seventh year as a program. The Gophers won in two sets (15-8, 15-9) in Tallahassee, Florida.
• Thursday’s matchup against the Gophers will mark just the second time in Clemson history in which the Tigers have faced a top-10 opponent in back-to-back matches as Clemson played No. 9 Wisconsin on Saturday, Sept. 14 in Jervey Gym. In 2011, Clemson faced then-No. 9 Florida and No. 3 USC on Sept. 3-4, respectively. It also marks the fifth time ever Clemson will have faced a ranked (top-25) opponent in two consecutive matches.
• The Tigers and Oral Roberts will also meet for just the second time in history this weekend. Clemson defeated the Golden Eagles, 30-27, 26-30, 30-20, 30-24, in Boulder, Colorado on Sept. 1, 2001.
• Clemson is 13-61 all-time against ranked opponents and 0-12 against top-10 opponents. The highest ranked team Clemson has ever defeated was at then-No. 13 Duke on Oct. 13, 2007. The Tigers won in five sets, 30-23, 30-26, 28-30, 19-30, 15-10.
• The Tigers are off to a great start behind the service line this season. As of Sept. 9, Clemson ranks 14^th in the nation in service aces (2.03/set), also good for an ACC-leading average.
• Clemson’s defense will look to slow down a Gopher offense that leads the nation in assists per set (14.95/set). The Tigers, on average, have held their opponents to 11.8 assists per set this season.
• Clemson junior middle hitter Alyssa Deloney was named to the Clemson Classic (Sept. 12-14) All-Tournament team after hitting .469 for the tournament along with 16 kills, eight blocks and three service aces in eight sets played.
• Against No. 9 Wisconsin on Sept. 14, Clemson junior outside hitter Kaylin Korte registered her eighth career double-double and fourth of the season with 11 kills and 10 digs.
• This season, the Tigers returned three 2018 All-ACC selections in Brooke Bailey (Second Team), Solei Thomas (All-Freshman) and Gabby Easton (All-Freshman), which marked the first time since 2011 Clemson collected three ACC postseason selections.
• In 2018, Clemson secured two postseason victories, a first in program history, with wins over Alabama A&M and Radford in the NIVC.

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