Tweet

	1	2	3	4	5	F
Virginia Tech (8-9)	26	29	25	21	11	2
Clemson (12-5)	28	27	19	25	15	3
Jervey Gym - 1,278 Box Score

CLEMSON, S.C. – The Virginia Tech volleyball team battled Clemson to five-sets, but the Tigers held as the Hokies fell 3-2 (26-28, 29-27, 25-19, 21-25, 11-15) on Friday evening at Jervey Gym in Clemson, South Carolina.

“We played hard tonight,” said head coach Chris Riley. “It was a great match, but unfortunately we couldn’t slow them down in the fifth set. Every match is a battle in the ACC especially when you’re going into someone else’s gym.”

Kathryn Caine led a balanced Virginia Tech (8-9, 1-3 ACC) attack with 13 kills. Lindsey Owens, Ashley Battle and Kennedy Bryan added 11 kills each. Jordan Fish put up 29 assists and Kyra Coundourides recorded her second double-double of the season with 24 assists and 12 digs.

Owens and Battle were also strong on the defensive side as Owens posted 13 digs and Battle had seven blocks. Megan Beckwith led the backcourt defense with 25 digs.

The two teams kept it close early in the opening set, but the Tigers took the 16-12 lead just past the midway point. Clemson maintained its advantage over the next few rallies, but the Hokies went on a run to tie it up at 20. Clemson again took the lead and was at set point (24-21) before a kill from Katie Krueger pulled Tech within two. A Clemson error followed by a kill from Battle tied the set back up at 24. The teams tied again at 25 and 26 before Clemson used a block and a kill to pick up the points, winning 28-26.

In the second set, the Hokies took the lead and were up 13-11 midway through. Clemson tied it up a few rallies later at 15. The two teams traded points and were still tied at 22 before the Tigers scored two straight to get to set point. Tech again responded with a kill from LaTasha Samson-Akpan and an ace from Coundourides to knot it at 24. The two teams were even at 27, but this time it was the Hokies turn to close out the set, securing the points needed off a kill from Bryan and an ace from Samson-Akpan to win 29-27.

The Hokies got out to the lead in the third set and were up 14-9 at the midpoint. Tech extended its advantage, going on top by eight at 19-11 off a kill from Bryan. Clemson was able to close it to 22-18 late in the set, but the Hokies scored back-to-back points to get to 24-18. The Tigers had another chance to make a run, but a CU service error gave the Hokies the point to win 25-19.

Clemson held the 13-8 advantage in the fourth set before the Hokies went on a run to cut it down to 16-15 off a kill from Owens. The Tigers again surged ahead, going on top 21-16 late in the set. Tech looked to go on a late run and cut it down to 22-20, but the Tigers closed out the set with a 3-1 run to win 25-21 and knot the match at two sets each.

In the final set, the teams traded points early and were even at 10-10 before the Tigers used a 4-0 run to get to set point. A kill from Battle gave the Hokies another chance to make a run, but a Tech error gave the point the Tigers needed to win the set and the match.

Haleigh Hampton led Clemson (12-5, 1-3 ACC) with 20 kills. Karis Watson added 11 kills and posted six blocks. Beta Dumancic was also strong on the block with six, including three solos. Irem Bayramoglu had 16 digs and Kate Federico notched 46 assists.

The Hokies will be back on the court on Sunday, Oct. 12 when they host rival Virginia at 1 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum.

For updates on Virginia Tech volleyball, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_VBall