CLEMSON, S.C. – The Clemson Tigers (8-13, 0-10 ACC) fell in three sets (24-26, 24-26, 20-25) to the NC State Wolfpack (11-7, 6-4 ACC) on Sunday afternoon in Jervey Gym.
The Tigers controlled the match defensively, finishing with nine total blocks in comparison to the Wolfpack’s eight, and Clemson had 50 digs in comparison to NC State’s 45. Senior pin attacker Azyah Dailey led the charge for the Tigers on the block front, clocking five total (two solo, three assisted), while Indigo Young, Kate Hansen and Neea-Maria Joki added three block assists each. Senior libero Devan Taylor finished with a team-high 11 digs, with sophomore McKenna Gildon adding 10.
Offensively, the Tigers hit .333 and .312 in the first two sets, but it wasn’t enough to overtake the Wolfpack. Young and Hansen finished with a team-high .333 on the day, while sophomore Kennedy Wagner added .309 off six kills in her single set of action. Clemson’s offense was rounded out by three aces at the hands of Taylor, Hansen and Gildon. Katherine Sandt added 31 assists over the three-set match.
The Tigers dropped a heavily contested first set, 24-26, that saw 13 ties and five lead changes. Dailey and Mia McGrath both led Clemson with four kills while Young, who hit .750, and Joki each posted an additional three kills. In the service game, Taylor and Hansen each recorded timely aces. Defensively, Young, Dailey, Hansen and Sandt, who notched 12 assists in the set, each recorded a block while Gildon and McGrath put up four and five digs, respectively.
Clemson dropped an equally close second set, 24-26, that saw six tied scores and the second consecutive set that the Tigers hit above .300. Dailey once again led the team with four kills after hitting .667 in the set with McGrath and Joki following closely behind with a trio of kills apiece. Young, Dailey and Joki each recorded a pair of blocks while Taylor notched six digs and Sandt put up another 12 assists on the set.
Wagner led the offensive effort in the final set of the afternoon after posting six kills, while Young, Hansen and Joki each recorded a pair of kills. On the defensive front, Dailey recorded the only solo blocks for the Tigers, while four separate Tigers each had four digs during the third set to combine for 24 digs for the set.
Up Next
The Tigers head on a four game road trip starting Friday, November 1 at 7 p.m. against North Carolina on ACCNX.