CLEMSON, S.C. – Graduate transfer Kaylee Martin reached the 2,000-career point mark en route to helping the Clemson volleyball team take down Southern Miss in four sets (25-15, 25-22, 21-25, 25-20) on Wednesday evening in Jervey Gym. With the win, Clemson improves to 12-14 overall and 8-8 in Jervey this season.
The Tigers put on a dynamic performance that included 56 kills, 12 blocks and 10 aces. Martin led the squad with 15 kills on 34 attacks for a .294 hitting percentage. Sophomore Cate Long joined Martin with 10 kills and 11 points. Ava Pritchard tied a season-high with nine kills, as Ani Clark tallied seven to round out the top four hitters for the Tigers. Mckenna Slavik added to the offensive prowess with 43 assists and four kills of her own to surpass the 300-career point benchmark.
Defensively, Pritchard continued to be dominant at the net finishing with eight blocks (one solo, seven assisted). Freshman Azyah Dailey posted a career-high four blocks, all assisted, while both Martin and Clark had three. Anna Renwick led the Tigers with 16 digs and four service aces. Senior Crystal Childs and freshman Devan Taylor also finished with double-digit digs contributing 11 and 10, respectively.
During the match, Clemson took an early lead in the first set led by Martin and refused to look back capturing set one, 25-15. Things stalled in the second set as Clemson fell behind, 18-15, before making the comeback to take the set two, 25-22. The Golden Eagles were able to put together multiple scoring runs in the third that the Tigers weren’t able to bounce back from, resulting in Southern Miss forcing a fourth set. Clemson didn’t stay down for long and rebounded in the fourth to win 25-20.
Up Next:
Clemson hits the road traveling to Coral Gables, Fla. to face Miami at 5 p.m. on Saturday night on the ACCXN. Saturday’s match marks the second time in seven days the Tigers and Hurricanes will meet, after meeting last Sunday in Jervey Gym.
