CLEMSON, S.C. – Clemson opened the match well with a set one win, and battled through a pair of tight finishes before falling to Virginia Tech in four sets, 25-19, 17-25, 23-25, 23-25.
Highlighting the night was a career-best dig outing for Tiger libero Addi Rains, who set a new career best with 22 digs.
The Tigers set the tone in the opening frame, building a 19-13 advantage before Virginia Tech cut the lead to three. Lauren Schneider stopped the Hokies’ momentum with a kill off an assist from Katherine Sandt, and Clemson later closed the set on a 4-0 run. Kennedy Wagner added a kill before Alyssa Irwin finished the 25-19 victory with a kill off an assist from Audrey Armbruster.
Virginia Tech responded in the second set, but Clemson stayed within striking distance as Anika Groom and Schneider delivered kills to pull the Tigers within one at 17-16. The Hokies answered with a late run to take the frame 25-17 and even the match.
Clemson and Virginia Tech went back and forth in the third. The Tigers erased a 19-17 deficit before Groom tied the set at 20-all. With Armbruster at the service line, Clemson capitalized on consecutive Virginia Tech attack errors to take a 22-20 lead. The Tigers remained in front at 23-22, but the Hokies scored the final three points to edge Clemson 25-23.
The Tigers mounted another late comeback in the fourth. Trailing 22-18, Schneider delivered a kill before Groom helped cut the deficit to one. After Virginia Tech moved ahead 23-21, Lina Merz answered with back-to-back kills to tie the set at 23-all. The Hokies responded with the final two points to take the frame 25-23 and close out the match.
With the 3-1 loss the Tigers are now 6-8 on the season and 0-2 in conference play.
Tiger Leaders
- Points: Anika Groom – 15.0
- Kills: Anika Groom - 13
- Digs: Addi Rains - 13
- Assists: Katherine Sandt - 22
- Blocks: Alyssa Irwin - 4
Up Next: The Tigers will hit the road for the first time in conference play beginning with North Carolina on Friday, Oct. 2 at 7 pm and then a trip to Duke on Oct. 4 at 1 pm. Both matches will be streamed on ACCNX. For the most up to date schedule information, go to clemsontigers.com.