BLACKSBURG – Beginning a four-match ACC homestand at Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum on Friday night, the Virginia Tech volleyball team fell to the hands of Clemson 3-1.
The Hokies (7-11, 0-5 ACC) got off to a fast start by winning the first set, but the Tigers (7-10, 1-5) got into a rhythm and won the next three to get their first league win of the season.
Tech was once again led by junior Kaity Smith, who tallied her third straight double-double with 12 kills and 15 digs. Clemson was paced by libero Madi Howell on the defensive end and her career-high 25 digs.
THE MATCH
Knotted at 9-9 to begin the match, the Hokies scored six of the next nine points to take a 15-12 lead at the media timeout. Out of the break, Tech went on a 3-1 run behind a kill from Smith to force Clemson to burn a timeout at 18-13. From there, the Hokies kept their foot on the pedal and went on to win 25-18.
Starting the second frame in a hole at 12-4, Tech began to chip away at the deficit, getting three kills alone from junior Marisa Cerchio to bring the Tigers' lead to just two points at 17-15. But Clemson would get on a run, scoring four straight to force Tech to take a timeout at 21-15. The Hokies put together another run, getting it to a two-point set at 22-20, however, Clemson finished taking three of the next four points to win 25-21.
Similar to the second set, the third stanza started with the Tigers jumping out to a big lead at 11-4. And, just like the second, Tech roared back and made it a close one at 15-12, causing Clemson to take a pause in the action. But the break would hurt the Hokies' momentum and the Tigers ripped off 10 points to take it 25-18.
Trailing by one at 5-4, Clemson got hot and went on a 10-2 run to earn a 14-6 advantage it would not relent. Freshman Anabel Zier and sophomore Talyn Jackson teamed up for a combo block to cut it to seven, but the Tigers kept their rhythm and concluded on another run to claim it 25-10.
NOTES
- Smith, who had a big weekend in North Carolina last week, is back in a groove with now owning double-digit kills in three consecutive matches. The Kentucky native also became just the second player in the Jill Wilson era to have three straight double-doubles, and now has 17 double-doubles in her storied career.
- Freshman Logan Mosley also had 15 digs, like Smith, and chipped in three assists as well. She now has 11 matches of 15-plus this season.
- Sophomore Tessa Wyner, who missed the last four matches of ACC play, began her league play stat line with 10 kills and four digs. Her 10 kills marked her first time getting double-digit kills in ACC action.
- Cerchio registered 10 kills and two blocks, giving her three straight double-digit outings, like Smith, too. Her .292 hitting percentage marked her highest, when getting 10 or more kills, since Sept. 10 at VCU.
UP NEXT
The Hokies will be back at home on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, taking on Georgia Tech (9-7, 2-3). The match will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra, with Evan Hughes (play-by-play) and Jake Lawrence (color) on the call.Gallery: (10/11/2019) 2019 VOLLEYBALL vs. CLEMSON
