Volleyball Set for NIVC Postseason Tournament

BRACKET

CLEMSON, S.C. – The Clemson volleyball team (17-14, 8-10 ACC) is set to host Alabama A&M (23-15, 17-1 SWAC) in the first round of the Women’s National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC), which will commence Nov. 29 through Dec. 11. The first serve between Clemson and the Bulldogs is slated for Thursday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. Additionally, Appalachian State (22-8, 13-3 Sun Belt) and Radford (21-6, 12-4 Big South) are scheduled to play prior to Thursday’s nightcap at 4 p.m. The winners of Thursday’s first round matches will square off on Friday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. All three matches will stream live via the Clemson Athletics’ Facebook account.

Ticket Prices are as follows:

• Thursday: $8 (good for both matches)
  • Free for Clemson students/under 18
• Friday: $8
  • Free for Clemson students/under 18
• *A $12 ticket will be available for purchase that will allow entry to all three matches*

Fans can purchase tickets at the front doors of Jervey Gym.

If Clemson advances beyond the second round, there is a possibility it would host proceeding rounds, which will be determined by the NIVC committee. Round three will be held Dec. 5-7, the semifinals run Dec. 7-9 and the championship match will take place Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m.

Clemson’s acceptance to the NIVC tournament marks its first postseason appearance since receiving an at-large bid to the 2009 NCAA Tournament. This season, Clemson achieved its highest ACC finish (9^th) since 2012 and best overall record since 2014. This year marks the second running of the NIVC since its rebirth last year. The original event ran from 1989-1995.

The NIVC is a single-elimination tournament with all games played at sites of host schools. The NIVC is committed to offering deserved opportunities to women’s Volleyball programs, and the 2018 Postseason NIVC features a full 32-team bracket. The NIVC offers teams an opportunity to get more practices in, to experience playoff-atmosphere games, to play in front of passionate fans, and to use their NIVC success as a springboard to the next season.

Match Setup

Thursday, Nov. 29                                                                            

Who: Alabama A&M (23-15, 17-1 SWAC)

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Jervey Gym

Watch: Clemson Athletics’ Facebook account

Live Stats: StatBroadcast

Follow: @ClemsonVB on Twitter and Instagram, and @ClemsonVolleyball on Facebook

Notes

• Clemson’s acceptance to the NIVC tournament marks its first postseason appearance since receiving an at-large bid to the 2009 NCAA tournament.
• This season, this Tigers achieved their best ACC finish (9^th) since 2009 and best overall record since 2014.
• If Clemson beats Alabama A&M in the first round, they’ll face the winner of Radford and Appalachian State, both of which were runners-up in the Big South and Sun Belt conferences, respectively … The Tigers defeated Appalachian State in five sets Sept. 1 before going on to win the Appalachian Invitational tournament the same day.
• Redshirt sophomore Brooke Bailey and freshmen Solei Thomas and Gabby Easton earned ACC postseason honors, the conference announced Nov. 26 … Bailey earned All-ACC Second Team honors after leading CU in kills … Easton was statistically the top freshmen setter in the conference and third overall … Thomas ranked second on the team in kills.
• Bailey, Easton and Thomas join teammate Kaylin Korte as having nabbed ACC postseason honors under the Michaela Franklin era (2017-18) … Korte, who was sidelined this season with a knee injury, was a 2017 All-ACC Second Team recipient.
• Clemson is one of two ACC teams alongside Georgia Tech to enter the NIVC tournament … If CU and GT advance beyond the second round, the two teams would square off for the second time this season in the NIVC quarterfinals in either Clemson or Atlanta.
• The Tigers won six matchups of their last eight matches to close out the 2018 regular season, dating back to Oct. 26 when they downed NC State in four sets.
• Clemson double the amount of ACC wins (8) this season than in 2015-17 combined (4).

Series Info

• Clemson is 2-0 all-time against the Bulldogs.
• The inaugural matchup was played in 1979 in Carrollton, Georgia, which the Tigers won in two sets.
• The most recent matchup was in 2005 – a Clemson sweep – at the Mizuno/Auburn Challenge in Auburn, Alabama.

For complete coverage of the Clemson volleyball team, follow @ClemsonVB on Twitter and Instagram, and @ClemsonVolleyball on Facebook.