CLEMSON, S.C. – Clemson fell to Ole Miss on the road Tuesday night in five sets (25-23, 21-25, 25-18, 18-25, 15-13). Anika Groom led the charge with 22 points on the night, setting a new single-game high for her.
How It Happened:
The Rebels took the opening set, 25-23, in a back-and-forth finish. Ole Miss held a 23-21 advantage before Maddie Anspaugh delivered a kill to pull Clemson within one. Talea Mitchell and Katherine Sandt then combined for a block on Shayla Meyer to even the set at 23-all. Following an Ole Miss timeout, a Clemson service error gave the Rebels set point before Vivianna Samaniego sealed the win with a service ace.
Clemson responded in the second set, overcoming an early six-point deficit to earn a 25-21 victory. Ole Miss jumped out to an 8-2 lead before Lina Merz helped the Tigers chip away at the deficit. Addi Rains then sparked a 5-0 run that included an Anika Groom kill and a Rains service ace before Groom evened the set at 14-all.
Ole Miss regained a 20-18 advantage but Clemson answered with five consecutive points. Mitchell started the run with a kill before back-to-back Rebels attack errors put the Tigers in front. Sandt followed with an ace, and Mitchell and Anspaugh combined for a block to extend Clemson’s lead to 23-20. After Ole Miss pulled within two, a service error gave the Tigers set point before McKenna Gildon finished the comeback with an ace.
The Rebels regained control in the third, jumping out to an 8-3 lead behind Meyer, Jorda Crook and Melia Johnson. Ole Miss extended its advantage to 14-5 as Tenesyn Frye and Nina Moorer helped fuel the attack.
Clemson cut the deficit to 16-11 behind a Claire Luoma ace and a Groom kill, but Ole Miss responded with a 4-1 stretch to push its advantage to 20-12. The Tigers made one final push as Anspaugh recorded a kill and Mitchell added an ace to make it 21-16. Crook halted the run with a kill before Carly Paugh and Meyer combined for a block to give Ole Miss set point. Crook followed with the set-clinching kill for a 25-18 victory.
Facing a 2-1 match deficit, Clemson responded with a 25-18 victory in the fourth set. After Ole Miss built an early 4-1 advantage, the Tigers worked their way back behind Groom and eventually pulled even at 7-all.
Luoma helped Clemson create separation with a service ace during a run that turned a one-point advantage into a 14-9 lead. Merz and Groom added kills during the stretch before Sandt later pushed Clemson’s advantage to 16-10. The Tigers maintained control down the stretch as Anspaugh and Brianna Washington contributed kills.
Groom delivered Clemson’s final two points, including the set-clinching kill off an assist from Sandt. The final kill also allowed Groom to match her career high for kills as Clemson forced a deciding fifth set.
Clemson carried its momentum into the fifth and built a 10-6 advantage. Anspaugh and Gildon helped the Tigers establish the early lead before Groom added two kills. Mitchell then delivered a kill and service ace to give Clemson its four-point cushion.
Ole Miss responded with a late rally. The Rebels cut Clemson’s lead to 11-9 before Meyer helped fuel a 4-0 run, including a service ace, to turn an 11-9 deficit into a 13-11 advantage. Anspaugh answered with a kill, and an Ole Miss attack error tied the deciding set at 13-all.
Crook delivered a kill on the next point to put Ole Miss at match point before a Clemson attack error sealed the 15-13 fifth-set victory and the match for the Rebels.
Tiger Leaders/Highlights:
- Points: Anika Groom – 22
- Kills: Anika Groom - 22
- Digs: Katherine Sandt - 16
- Assists: Katherine Sandt – 38
- Blocks: Maddie Anspaugh, Talea Mitchell - 2
- Aces: Talea Mitchell - 3
Up Next: Clemson will return home on Friday, Sept. 11, to face South Carolina for another edition of the Palmetto Series. First serve will take place at 7 p.m., and the first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive glow sticks.