CLEMSON, S.C. – The Clemson volleyball team (3-1) bounced back to force a fifth set against Jacksonville State (5-0), but ultimately dropped the match, 3-2, on Friday evening in Jervey Gym. The Tigers posted 12.0 team blocks and eight aces, but it wasn’t enough to outlast the Gamecocks.
Box Score (PDF)
The match started off slow for the Tigers after not being able to string together more than two points at a time in the first set, which ultimately led to JSU taking the first set, 25-11. Clemson refused to stay down and quickly battled back in the second set after redshirt freshman Jacyn Bamis and junior Colleen Finney provided strong scoring runs with timely kills and blocks. Bamis and sophomore Azyah Dailey put the Tigers in position to take the second set, 25-21, after combining for a late block.
In the third set, the Tigers were able to string together a .321 hitting percentage that included 12 kills and three aces, but Jacksonville State claimed an edge with a .367 hitting percentage in the set. JSU took the third set, 25-20, but Clemson responded in the fourth with both Camryn Hannah and Dailey putting up five blocks. Bamis and freshman Mia McGrath tallied two block assists to keep things rolling for the Tigers, and freshman Sophie Catalano added two aces in the set, three total in the match, to help Clemson take set four, 25-20.
Clemson started the fifth set strong with three quick points off kills from Hannah and freshman Mia Moore. Jacksonville State responded with a string of points itself, including five kills from Katie Montgomery. The Tigers stayed alive after JSU took it to match-point by picking up three points off block assists from Hannah and Bamis, but it wasn’t enough as the Gamecocks took set five, 15-11.
Up Next
The Tigers continue action at the Clemson Invitational tomorrow afternoon against The Citadel at 1:30 p.m., before concluding the tournament with a nightcap against Gardner-Webb at 7 p.m.
Photos courtesy of Dawson Powers, Clemson Athletics
