CLEMSON, S.C. – Clemson battled throughout a back-and-forth five-set battle with Furman before falling 15-25, 25-18, 25-27, 28-26, 12-15.
After dropping the opening set, Clemson responded in the second behind a strong finish to even the match. McKenna Gildon delivered a service ace before Alyssa Irwin and Maddie Anspaugh added kills to help the Tigers build their advantage. Anspaugh then recorded back-to-back aces to give Clemson set point before Lauren Schneider finished the 25-18 victory with a kill off an assist from Katherine Sandt.
The Tigers nearly carried that momentum into the third, mounting a late rally after trailing 22-18. Bri Washington and Schneider helped Clemson close the gap before Anspaugh tied the set at 22-all. Clemson later fought off Furman set point and earned one of its own at 25-24, but the Paladins answered with three consecutive points to take the frame 27-25.
Facing a 2-1 match deficit, Clemson responded with another late comeback in the fourth. Furman reached match point at 24-22, but Schneider delivered a kill before teaming with Washington for a block to tie the set. Anika Groom later fought off another match point with a kill, and Schneider answered a third with a kill to make it 26-all. Schneider would go on to have a career-best night in digs, kills and blocks. The Tigers took advantage of a Furman bad set before an attack error sealed Clemson’s 28-26 victory and forced a deciding fifth set.
Clemson continued to battle in the fifth, erasing a 9-7 deficit behind a Furman attack error and a block from Sandt and Washington to tie the set at 9-all. Anspaugh kept the Tigers within one with a kill before Clemson rallied again to even the score at 12-all. Furman responded with three straight points at the net to take the deciding set 15-12 and secure the match.
With the 2-3 loss the Tigers are now 5-5 on the season.
Tiger Leaders
- Points: Maddie Anspaugh - 17
- Kills: Maddie Anspaugh - 15
- Digs: Addi Rains - 15
- Assists: Katherine Sandt – 33
- Blocks: Lauren Schneider and Bri Washington - 4
- Aces: McKenna Gildon - 3
Up Next: The Tigers will stay home for the final day of the Tiger Classic tomorrow at 6 pm against New Hampshire. That match will be streamed on ACCNX. For the most up to date schedule information go to clemsontigers.com.