Photos by Daniel Brandalise, Clemson Athletic Communications
Box Score
CLEMSON, S.C. – Virginia Tech scored four of the last five points to knock off Clemson in five sets (21-25, 25-20, 20-25, 25-22, 15-11) in Jervey Gym Friday night. The Tigers were led by Kayln Korte, who posted her 13th career double-double – and eighth for the season – after recording 18 kills and a career-best 17 digs.
Clemson trailed 17-20 late in the first, but closed out the set on an 8-1 run, which included six unanswered points, as Madi Howell helped spark momentum behind the service line for the Tigers. Virginia Tech registered five errors in the midst of Clemson’s late-set run. Ashtynne Alberts led the Tigers’ offensive effort with three kills on five swings to hit .400 for the opening game.
Virginia Tech responded with a 9-1 run of its own to reach set point, 24-15. The Tigers put up an admirable fight with a 5-0 run that was ultimately cut short on a block solo by Virginia Tech’s Marisa Cerchio, which gave the Hokies the set (25-20) and evened the match.
Coming out of the break, both teams were nearly even midway through the set until Clemson capitalized on 6-1 run to take a 16-13 lead. From there, the Tigers maintained their lead for the rest of the set and closed out game No. 3 with three unanswered points including back-to-back points by Korte – a kill followed by a service ace – to give Clemson set point, 24-20. An Ava Pritchard kill secured the set win and gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead heading into the fourth. Clemson was strong in receive in the third, siding out on 71 percent (15-21) of Hokie serves.
In the fourth, Clemson grasped a 17-11 lead, but the Hokies chipped away to tie the score, 17-17. The Tigers disrupted the Hokies’ 6-0 run with a 3-0 run of their own to take a 20-17 lead, but Virginia Tech closed out seven of the final eight points to force a deciding fifth set. Korte tallied five of her 17 digs in game No. 4.
The Hokies scored the first three points of the deciding fifth set, a span that included back-to-back aces. Clemson and Virginia Tech were neck and neck (11-10), before the Hokies closed out the match on its 4-1 run.
Coming off the bench, defensive specialist Katelyn DeGuzman registered a career-high seven digs.
Up next, Clemson (10-16, 4-11 ACC) returns to Jervey Gym for its final home contest of the 2019 regular season on Sunday, Nov. 17 at noon as the Tigers take on Virginia. Defensive specialist/libero Emily Curtis is slated to be recognized for Senior Day after the match. Sunday’s match is free general admission to the public and is scheduled to stream on ACCNX. For the Tigers’ complete 2019 schedule, click here.
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