MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Clemson Volleyball team won by two points in all three sets en route to sweeping Central Arkansas, 25-23, 28-26, 25-23, Friday evening in the Tigers’ final match of the K-State Invitational, which was held in Bramlage Coliseum. Clemson was led by setter Mckenna Slavik, who tallied 45 assists and was named to the all-tournament team, and outside hitter Kaylin Korte, who achieved her seventh career double-double with a team-high 15 kills and 10 digs.
The Clemson offense looked sharp to open the match as Korte (5), Alyssa Deloney (5) and Brooke Bailey (4) combined for 14 Tiger kills in the first frame. Slavik assisted on all 21 kills in the opening set to help Clemson achieve a .421 hitting percentage. The game was tightly contested the whole way through. After a Sugar Bear kill that tied the set, 23-23, Clemson Head Coach Michaela Franklin called timeout, which was followed by back-to-back Tiger points to give Clemson the set, 25-23, and lead.
After another closely-contested game, the two teams found themselves tied at 24-24. Both teams traded points before Clemson forced two UCA attack errors, which gave the Tigers the set, 28-26, and a 2-0 lead heading into the break. Korte posted seven of her 15 kills in set No. 2.
Coming out of the locker room, a balanced Clemson offense propelled itself to victory as six Tigers registered kills in the third. Junior libero Madi Howell tallied six of her team-high 12 digs in set No. 3, helping hold the UCA offense to a .163 hitting percentage for the set. The Sugar Bears would cut the Clemson lead to one, 24-23, late in the game before Franklin signaled for time. A UCA attack error put an end to its 4-1 run and handed Clemson its third sweep of the season as the Tigers once again took the set, 25-23.
Up next, Clemson (4-2, 0-0 ACC) returns to Jervey Gym Tuesday, Sept. 10 as the Tigers host Appalachian State (2-3, 0-0 Sun Belt) at 7 p.m. ET. Tuesday’s match is set to stream on ACCNX. All Clemson home regular-season matches in Jervey Gym are free general admission for the public.
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