CLEMSON, S.C. – Clemson battled Virginia through five sets, taking the second and third frames before the Cavaliers rallied to defeat the Tigers 25-21, 22-25, 24-26, 25-20, 15-8.
The Tigers showed their resilience after dropping a tightly contested opening set. Clemson held a 21-20 advantage late in the first before Virginia closed on a 5-0 run to take the frame. Clemson responded in the second behind strong play from Anika Groom, Kennedy Wagner and Alyssa Irwin. Groom delivered back-to-back service aces during the Tigers’ comeback before Wagner helped fuel a late 4-0 run. Irwin added a block assist and solo block, and Wagner delivered the set-clinching kill off an assist from Katherine Sandt to secure the 25-22 victory.
Clemson carried that momentum into a back-and-forth third set. Wagner put the Tigers ahead 22-21 with a kill, but Virginia responded and eventually earned set point at 24-23. Groom kept Clemson alive with a kill to even the score before a Virginia attack error put the Tigers in front. Groom then delivered another kill off a Sandt assist to close out the 26-24 victory and give Clemson a 2-1 advantage in the match.
Virginia responded in the fourth, but Clemson continued to battle late. Trailing 22-16, Irwin recorded a kill and solo block before Wagner added another kill to bring the Tigers within three. The Cavaliers answered down the stretch to take the set 25-20 and force a deciding fifth frame.
Clemson remained within one early in the fifth after a Wagner kill made it 6-5, but Virginia answered with a 6-0 run to create separation. Wagner halted the stretch with another kill, while Irwin recorded a solo block to help Clemson fight off match point. The Tigers stayed alive once more on a Virginia attack error before the Cavaliers closed the set 15-8 to secure the five-set match.
With the 3-2 loss the Tigers are now 6-7 on the season.
Tiger Leaders
- Points: Anika Groom – 17.5
- Kills: Kennedy Wagner - 15
- Digs: Anika Groom - 13
- Assists: Katherine Sandt - 22
- Blocks: Alyssa Irwin - 6
- Aces: Anika Groom- 3
Up Next: The Tigers will host Virginia Tech on Sept. 27 at 1 pm before hitting the road for four games, beginning with North Carolina on Friday, Oct. 2 at 7 pm. For the most up to date schedule information, go to clemsontigers.com.