Clemson Splits Two Matches on Friday

Sept. 2, 2011

GAINESVILLE, FL – The Clemson volleyball team split a pair of matches on Friday in the Campus USA Credit Union Classic at the University of Florida. Clemson defeated Florida Atlantic, 3-0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-16) before dropping its first decision of the season to Jacksonville in five sets (25-23, 23-25, 23-25, 25-18, 12-15). The Tigers will play Florida on Saturday at 4:00 pm in the O’Connell Center in the tournament finale.

The Tigers’ comeback bid fell just short, as a couple of key errors fueled Jacksonville to the win. The numbers were comparable across the board, with each team registering 64 kills and 61 assists. Clemson outhit Jacksonville, .234-.203 and out-blocked the Dolphins, 12.0-6.5. But Clemson struggled in the service game, registering 13 service errors and allowing four aces. There were 40 total tied scores and 15 lead changes in the match.

The loss spoiled career days from both Sandra Adeleye and Kristin Faust. Adeleye tied a career-high with 23 kills, which she last amassed during the 2009 season against Boston College. Faust, in just her fifth collegiate match, registered her first career double-double with 17 kills and 17 digs, while hitting .279. Adeleye wasn’t able to score in the final set, however, which was key to the Dolphins’ win.

Cansu Ozdemir had a season-high 23 digs and six assists, and Hannah Brenner had 31 assists and 11 digs for her first double-double of the season.

The Tigers took a tight first set, which saw neither team score more than two in a row until Clemson scored six straight to take a 20-16 lead off two Tiger blocks and a pair of Adeleye kills. Jacksonville responded with a 5-1 run to knot the score at 21. With the score tied at 23, Jacksonville sent an attack long and then Rand and Simmons got in front of one to clinch the set, 25-23.

Jacksonville took a second straight set, as Clemson never could get a foothold or cushion against the scrappy Dolphins. Clemson opened with a 5-1 lead, but Jacksonville went on a 14-7 run to take a 15-12 lead. With the match knotted at 18, the Dolphins scored three in a row. Clemson closed to one on an ace from Mo Simmons, but Jacksonville was able to side out. Clemson missed on two straight service attempts and the Dolphins closed the set with a 25-23 win.

In the fifth set, Jacksonville opened a quick, 6-2 lead with some aggressive offense, and a couple of missed opportunities by the Tiger offense. Alexa Rand almost single-handedly brought the Tigers back, recording back-to-back kills and a solo block to knot the match at 8-8.

Jacksonville took the next two points before Faust found the floor and a Dolphin sent one wide. But a pair of Jacksonville kills sandwiched around an error from Faust gave them a 13-10 lead. Karis Watson got in on two straight blocks, one with Rand, and one with Adeleye, to close the deficit to 13-12. But Brenner sent her next service long, and Jacksonville answered with an ace to clinch the set.