Box Score (.pdf)

Clemson, S.C. – The USC Upstate volleyball team fell to the Clemson Tigers 3-0 (11-25, 21-25, 21-25) inside Jervey Gym Saturday afternoon to conclude play at the Clemson Classic.

Upstate falls to 9-2 on the season while Clemson improves to 5-4 overall.

Emily Koelling, who was named to the Clemson Classic All-Tournament Team, led the Spartans offensively with nine kills on the afternoon. Lexi Gober dished out 24 assists and added eight digs. Madison Haake collected a team-high 12 digs, while Callie Yeargin and Shannon Weiss posted 10 each.

Leah Perri finished with a match-high 12 kills for the Tigers and Kailey Harvell tallied 10. Kate Federico contributed a double-double of 33 assists and 11 digs, and Keelie Arneson led all players with 20 digs.

Clemson began the first set by recording the first six points to go in front 6-0 capped by a kill from Perri. The Tigers would extend their lead out to 15-4 several plays later on Megan McGinley's kill. Upstate then took the next three points to cut into its deficit 15-7 as Rebecca Shearer and Brianna Tellschow each had a kill. Clemson followed with a 5-1 run to extend its lead to 20-8 forcing the Spartans into a timeout. Sydney Moseley picked up the final three points for the Tigers to give them a 25-11 win.

After Clemson opened the second set with a 4-1 lead, Upstate rallied back to within one, 5-4, following McGinley's attack error. The Spartans managed to tie the score at 13-13 after scoring three straight points with Koelling picking up a kill along the way. The teams traded points for the next seven plays with Upstate taking its first lead of the match, 16-15, on an attack error by Harvell. The Tigers took the lead back at 23-19 courtesy of an 8-3 run. Harvell gave Clemson the 25-21 set two win with her kill.

The Spartans split the opening 10 points of the third set with the Tigers and were tied 5-5 after Haake and Tellschow combined for a block. Clemson broke the set open after going on a 10-4 run and pushing its lead over Upstate to 15-9 on a solo block by Sofia Hruby. The Spartans fought back to even the set at 19-19 after Gober and Tellschow teamed up for three kills over a stretch of four plays. The Tigers ended the set on a 6-2 run to take the frame 25-21 and match 3-0.

Upstate is back in action next weekend when it travels to St. Louis, Mo. for the Billiken Invitational. The Spartans will face UT Martin, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, North Dakota and Saint Louis as part of the two-day tournament.

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