Clemson Volleyball Wins, 3-1, on Senior Night

Nov. 13, 2010

CLEMSON, SC – The Clemson volleyball team hit .308 as the Tigers swept the season series from Virginia Tech with a 3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 25-23, 25-19) win on Saturday night. Clemson(17-11, 8-9 ACC) sent senior Cansu Ozdemir off in style, winning a third straight match overall in a late-season push for the NCAA tournament.

Virginia Tech (18-9, 9-8 ACC) entered the match ranked #34 in the RPI and coming off a three-set win at third-place Georgia Tech. But Clemson’s offense was too much, as the Tigers had 59 kills against only 14 attack errors, and registered 12.0 blocks in the match.

Ozdemir had 15 digs to lead all players in the match. The Istanbul, Turkey native won her 92^nd career match, and has been a part of three NCAA tournament appearances and the 2007 ACC Championship.

Serenat Yaz helped carry the offense, recording 19 kills and 11 digs, while hitting .348 from the outside. It was her 18^th double-double of the season, and 15^th in ACC play. Alexa Rand had 10 kills and six blocks, moving her past the 300 plateau for her career. Sandra Adeleye had 15 kills and five blocks, and will likely maintain her hold on the ACC’s top kills spot by a middle hitter.

Hannah Brenner played a second straight excellent match, recording 46 assists, five digs, four blocks, and four kills, while guiding the offense. Fellow freshman Mo Simmons had eight kills and four block assists as well.

Clemson took a 1-0 match lead with a 25-20 first set. Yaz had five kill sin the first set, while Adeleye added four as Clemson pulled away late for the win and a 1-0 lead. The Tigers led throughout, after opening up an early 8-4 lead, forcing a Tech timeout.

Virginia Tech fought back in the second set as Jennifer Wiker had eight kills in 13 attacks. Clemson took a 20-19 lead, but served into the net, which sprung a 5-0 Tech run to give them the edge to take the set, 25-21, going into intermission. There were 10 tie scores and five lead changes in the set.

The third set was similar, with eight ties and four lead changes. After falling behind early, 11-9, Clemson went on a run to take a three point lead at 15-12. Tech closed to within one at 21-20, but Clemson took a 24-21 lead on a block form Brenner and Adeleye. Virginia Tech closed back to within one, but a kill from Adeleye clinched the set, 25-23.

After Virginia Tech took a 7-5 lead, Clemson went on a 8-2 run to take a 13-9 lead, a lead they would not concede. Tech got to within one at 20-19, but the Tigers fired off five straight points to clinch the match, 25-19.

The Tigers return to action on Friday as they head to North Carolina and NC State. Clemson closes the season at Georgia tech on Nov. 29.