Tigers Defeat Eastern Michigan, 3-1, on Saturday

Sept. 11, 2010

EAST LANSING, MI – The Clemson volleyball team bounced back from their first loss of the season in a big way, posting a 3-1 (25-23, 22-25, 25-16, 25-14) win over previously undefeated Eastern Michigan on Saturday in the Spartan Invitational. The Tigers improve to 7-1 on the year, while the Eagles drop to 9-1.

After grinding through the first two sets, the Tigers hit .286 and .462 in sets three and four, respectively, to grab the win.

Clemson rediscovered its defensive touch, registering 18 total blocks in the four-set match, and holding the Eagles to .088 hitting. Sandra Adeleye led all Tigers with 11 kills and nine total blocks, including three solo, while Alexa Rand had eight kills and eight blocks. Hannah Brenner, who entered in the first set, finished with 32 assists and 10 digs for her second career double-double. She also added five total blocks.

Cansu Ozdemir added 21 digs, her second-best total of the season.

In the first set, the teams traded points early, with Clemson able to grab a 10-7 lead, but Eastern Michigan responded with 12 of the next 17 to take a 19-15 lead, but a Hoover timeout sparked the Tigers to a 4-0 run, tying the set at 19-19. Hoover inserted freshman Cansu Ozdemir had six digs and Clemson held EMU to .083 hitting on 48 attacks.

Eastern Michigan again posted a fast start, taking an 8-4 lead. A Hoover timeout appeared to right the ship, as the Tigers were able to knot the match at 11, and take a 16-15 lead on a Serenat Yaz kill. EMU then scored three straight to take an 18-16 lead. The teams traded points, but a 3-0 run with a 21-20 lead gave the Eagles the edge they needed to take the set, 25-22.

The Tigers grabbed the match advantage out of the break in the third set with a 25-16 set win behind five blocks. The teams traded blows early, and the Eagles actually led, 11-10 before Clemson went on a 15-5 run to close the set. Middles Alexa Rand and Sandra Adeleye both got hot down the stretch.

Clemson closed out the match in impressive fashion with a 25-14 win in the fourth set. The Tigers hit over .400 in the set, and held EMU to .065 hitting. Patzin had six kills in the set to lead Clemson, who closed the match on a 5-0 run.