Box Score

Clemson 3, VT 1

 

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Junior Kristen Cunningham landed a career-high 20 kills to lead the Hokies, but it wasn't enough as the Virginia Tech volleyball team fell 1-3 (17-30, 29-31, 32-30, 27-30) to No. 24 Clemson Saturday evening in Cassell Coliseum.

Cunningham led four Hokies in double-figure kills. Sophomore Taylor Parrish collected a double-double, with 15 kills and 11 digs, while sophomore Betsy Horowitz chipped in 12 kills with seven blocks and Felicia Willoughby had 10 kills and eight blocks.

Sophomore Michelle Lang dished out 56 assists, while senior Amanda Cloyd dug a match-high 26 attacks and sophomore Jill Gergen chipped in 12.

For Clemson, Danielle Hepburn knocked down 22 kills with seven blocks. Leslie Mansfield had 16 kills and 13 digs, while Meghan Steiner had 14 kills and six blocks. Kelsey Murphy handed out 61 assists and collected 17 digs.

Clemson jumped out to an 11-5 lead in the opening game, forcing a Tech timeout. The Tigers extended their advantage to eight by 22-14, forcing the Hokies to use their second timeout, but Clemson dominated the remainder of the game, using an 8-3 run to close out the frame, for a 30-17 win.

Junior Sarah Muñoz landed back-to-back aces late in game two, to even the score at 29 all. But the spark wasn't enough, as a kill and block from Clemson provided the Tigers the two points they needed for a 31-29 win.

Game three also featured a 29-29 score. A Clemson service error and then a Hokie attack error knotted the score again at 30, before a Tiger attack error and a block by Willoughby and Horowitz gave the Hokies their first win in the match at 32-30.

The fourth game was tight at the end as well. Clemson used a kill from Steiner to go up one at 28-27, and then a block from Steiner for a second consecutive point for a 29-27 lead. Murphy then secured the win with a service ace for a 30-27 Tiger win.

The Hokies (12-14, 6-10 ACC) will look to rebound this weekend in North Carolina. Tech will first face NC State on Fri., Nov. 9 at 7 p.m., before traveling to North Carolina for a 7 p.m., match on Sat., Nov. 10.