Volleyball Set For Conference Opener

CLEMSON, S.C. – ACC play begins this weekend as Clemson (5-7) travels to Virginia Tech (5-6) and Pittsburgh (9-3) for its first two conference matches of the season. The Tigers will take on the Hokies at 7:00 p.m., on Friday night in Blacksburg, Va., before its meeting with the Panthers at 1:00 p.m., on Sunday in Pittsburgh, Pa. Clemson enters conference play as one of the top serving teams in the ACC with several student-athletes statistically ranked among the best in the ACC as well.

Winning the serve and serve receive game could be the difference in this weekend’s matchups as Clemson’s strength this season has been the pressure its put on opponents with its serve. The Tigers ranks third in the conference, averaging 1.52 aces per set with its 76 aces on the season being the second highest total in the ACC.

One of two teams that average more aces per set than Clemson is Pittsburgh with 1.59 aces per set. The team that finds itself last in the conference in aces is Clemson’s first opponent of the weekend, Virginia Tech.

Leading the Tigers’ serving effort are seniors, Leah Perri and Sydney Moseley. Perri is currently tied for the third most aces in the conference with 16 while Moseley is tied for fourth with 15 to her credit. Joining them in double figures this season are Kailey Harvell with 11 and Ally Gamble with 10.

Perri still ranks as one of the conference’s most lethal student-athletes as her 3.96 kills per set and 198 kills on the season are both the second highest totals in the ACC. Her 230.5 points in 2016 is the highest point total in the ACC and currently ranks her 32^nd in the nation.

About to begin her first season in the ACC, Keely Hayes’ assists total remains atop the ACC as the junior transfer has converted on 487 of her sets. Megan McGinley continues to showcase her development since her freshman year as the sophomore’s 53 blocks rank her third in the conference.