Clemson Defeats Virginia in Four

Clemson Defeats Virginia in Four Sets

The Tigers (14-10, 2-10 ACC) dropped the first set against the Virginia Cavaliers (10-12, 3-9 ACC) but rallied to win the next three sets, finishing with a 3-1 victory on the road in Charlottesville. The final score was 22-25, 25-20, 25-19, 28-26.

Match Summary

Virginia started strong, creating a five-point lead early in the first set. However, Clemson responded with kills from Khaya Gordon, Mia Moore, and Mia McGrath to narrow the gap. Despite cuts into the lead, Virginia maintained a 25-22 win in the opening set.

In the second set, Clemson quickly put together a three-point run with kills from McGrath and Gordon, plus a solo block by Kate Hansen. The Tigers dominated with strong blocks from Nil Okur, Moore, and Gordon, extending a five-point lead and forcing a Virginia timeout. Clemson sealed the set 25-20 with key kills.

The momentum carried into the third set, where Clemson pulled ahead with three- and four-point streaks, including an ace by Claire Luoma, taking control of the match.

Key Player Contributions

Khaya Gordon led Clemson with 16 kills.
Mia McGrath and Mia Moore contributed 13 and 12 kills respectively.
Claire Luoma added two aces, including a crucial one in the third set.
Nil Okur provided critical blocks and kills alongside Moore and Gordon.

"Blocks proved to be the name of the game in the second as Okur tacked on two block assists alongside Moore and Gordon to take a five-point lead and force Virginia to call timeout."

Clemson's resilience and defensive efforts turned the match around after losing the first set, securing a vital ACC road win.

Author's summary: Clemson overcame an early deficit to defeat Virginia 3-1, powered by strong kills and blocks from key players like Khaya Gordon and Nil Okur.

Clemson University Athletics — 2025-11-03