I cannot tell you how much this group deserves and has earned this! #TrustTheProcess #KeepFighting #ChampionshipBehavior https://t.co/Vydd3M1LkI— Michaela (@VBCoachFranklin) October 20, 2018
I cannot tell you how much this group deserves and has earned this! #TrustTheProcess #KeepFighting #ChampionshipBehavior https://t.co/Vydd3M1LkI
— Michaela (@VBCoachFranklin) October 20, 2018
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Clemson volleyball team earned its first ACC sweep in four years, shutting out Miami (25-21, 25-23, 25-23) Friday evening at the Knight Sports Complex in Coral Gables, Florida. Friday’s outcome also marked the first Clemson victory over Miami since 2011 and first road win over the Hurricanes since 2009. Redshirt-sophomore Brooke Bailey tied her career high of 18 kills for the second straight match on 36 attempts, while hitting .361. With the win, Clemson improves to 11-11 overall and 2-7 in conference play, while the Hurricanes slip to 10-6 overall and 6-3 in ACC matchups.
“We need to be sure that we bring our identity on the road,” said Clemson head coach Michaela Franklin. “I’m really proud of the way our team played and fought together tonight. We’ve been working really hard on how to compete. We know there’s a good balance between having competitive composure as well as having competitive intensity. I thought we did a good job of that, especially in tight moments. When you could kind of feel our warrior dial starting to change and go a little too high, I thought our CEOs did a fabulous job of making sure we stayed dialed in as a team.”
Clemson took control of the match early, jumping out to a 7-1 lead to open the first. Bailey tallied seven of her 18 kills in the opening set. Junior Emily Curtis registered seven of her match-high 14 digs in set No. 1. The Hurricanes responded in the second, taking an early 8-4 lead. Clemson went on to tie set No. 2, 19-19, on a kill from freshman Crystal Childs. The Tigers closed out the second game on a 6-2 run in route to taking a 2-0 lead entering the break. In the third, the Tigers clawed their way back again late in the set. After trailing 19-15, Clemson sparked a 9-4 run to close out the set and match.
OH MY 🤯#NCAAVB #SCtop10(via @ClemsonVB) pic.twitter.com/ZLg9jH2qiL— NCAA Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) October 19, 2018
OH MY 🤯#NCAAVB #SCtop10(via @ClemsonVB) pic.twitter.com/ZLg9jH2qiL
— NCAA Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) October 19, 2018
“I think Brooke is starting to feel confident out there, which can take some time. She’s still – as a redshirt sophomore – a very young player to the floor and it’s also her first year in the ACC. She’s beginning to settle in and we’re starting to see what she’s going to be able to do for us.”
Up next, the Tigers take on Florida State (12-7, 8-1 ACC) in Tallahassee, Florida on Sunday at 1 p.m. Sunday’s matchup is set stream on ACC Network Extra. The Seminoles defeated Georgia Tech Friday evening in four sets.
“Florida State is one of the bigger and more physical teams in the conference; they’re experienced as well. They obviously have a tradition of winning, so I’m looking forward to getting our team out there in Tallahassee. We’ll enjoy the win tonight, but practice and focus on Florida State tomorrow.”
🙌💃 pic.twitter.com/mWH3BZAj02— Clemson Volleyball (@ClemsonVB) October 20, 2018
🙌💃 pic.twitter.com/mWH3BZAj02
— Clemson Volleyball (@ClemsonVB) October 20, 2018
For complete coverage of the Clemson volleyball team, follow @ClemsonVB on Twitter and Instagram, and @ClemsonVolleyball on Facebook.
Notes: Clemson won its first ACC road match since 2015 when it defeated Georgia Tech on Nov. 11 … The Tigers secured their first ACC road sweep since 2014 when they blanked Notre Dame (Oct. 17) … The last time Curtis started at libero was in a four-set loss at Miami on Nov. 25, 2016 … Brooke Bailey tied her career-high 18 kills for the second straight match Junior Emily Curtis made her first appearance of 2018 in the alternate libero jersey … Curtis posted a season-best 14 digs, seven of which came in the first set against Miami Friday … Freshman setter Gabby Easton dimed 49 assists – her season-best against an ACC opponent – in Clemson’s sweep over Miami … Earlier this year, Easton posted a NCAA-leading mark of 51 assists in the Tigers’ sweep over Davidson.
