CLEMSON, SC – Yes. The Power Four Clemson Tigers defeated the North Carolina A&T Aggies in three sets (25-22, 19, 22) on Thursday night in non-conference volleyball action at Jervey Gymnasium.
But if the ball lands favorably here or there by a few inches in the Aggies' direction, Thursday night's match could have become even more interesting. A&T will get another chance to face the Tigers as the same two teams will play at Jervey Gymnasium Friday night at 6.
In Thursday's match, the Aggies showed their legitimacy early. Sophomore Tyne Ross, who led all players with 17 kills to go along with a .316 hitting percentage and six digs, gave the Aggies an 18-17 lead in the first set with a kill. The Aggies took the lead two more times late in the first set.
Junior Leonor Polezzi took a pass from junior Valeria Estrada to give the Aggies a 20-19 advantage. Later, a service error from Clemson's Mia McGarth put A&T closer to a first-set victory, putting the set in A&T's favor at 21-20. Clemson ran off the next three points, leading A&T to call a timeout.
Out of the timeout, Ross scored on another kill to bring the Aggies to within one, 23-22. However, Clemson took a 1-0 lead in the match on a Kennedy Wagner kill and a Ross attack error.
A&T got off to a slower start in Set No. 2, leading to the Aggies calling a timeout after falling behind 10-5 and again after trailing 17-9. The Tigers claimed set point at 24-16 on a Kate Simington kill. Ross kept the Aggies going with a kill before Polezzi scored on an ace.
Ross, who had six kills in the set, followed with another point on a kill to bring the Aggies to within five at 24-19. But A&T's 3-0 rally, and the set ended with an Aggies service error.
"I think it really came down to Clemson's serving," said A&T head coach Hal Clifton. "We just didn't pass well overall, but we were still aggressive offensively. When we were in system, we were able to score."
Clemson took its momentum into the third set, taking a 17-9 lead. The Aggies rallied.
Two Camden Scott blocks highlighted A&T's 5-0 run. Her solo block cut Clemson's lead to 17-11 before she teamed with freshman Nicole Ellis for a block assist to move the Aggies to within four at 17-13. Ellis capped off the run with a kill, which led to a Tigers timeout. Another freshman, Zariah Winton, got the Aggies even closer, cutting Clemon's lead to 20-17.
Clifton called a timeout after an Aggies service error gave Clemson a 23-19 lead. A Ross kill followed his timeout. However, the Tigers claimed set and match point on a Kate Simington kill. A Winton kill followed a Scott kill to keep the Aggies going, bringing them within two at 24-22 before the match ended on a McGarth kill.
"We need to do a better job serving tough," said Clifton. "Clemson had too many opportunities to run their offense. But overall, we competed well. I loved the energy and effort we showed. Now, I just have to get us in a better position to win the match. I have to have us play with better technique for the entire match."
Winton added eight kills for the Aggies. Polezzi added 27 assists and nine digs. Ellis and sophomore Luca Radnai led A&T with three blocks apiece, and Estrada led in digs with 11.
