The Clemson Tigers (6-2) downed the Winthrop Eagles (2-5) in four sets (25-19, 21-25, 25-20, 25-14) to sweep weekend action at the Black & Gold Invitational. The Tigers were led by freshman Neea-Maria Joki who finished with 19.5 points on Saturday afternoon.
Three Tigers ended the four-set match with double-digit points led by Joki, who tallied 15 kills, five blocks and two aces. Joining her was junior Mia McGrath, who picked up 11.5 points behind nine kills, three blocks and one ace. The last Tiger to hit double-digits was
sophomore Kate Hansen, who finished with 10 points from seven kills and six blocks. Graduate Indigo Young also added seven kills and five blocks for a total of 9.5 points. Sophomore Audrey Armbruster posted a double-double with 36 assists and 14 digs, while senior Devan Taylor led Clemson with 19 digs and three aces.
The Tigers entered the final match up the weekend with early scoring runs coming from Taylor and Joki clocking aces and kills. Clemson was also able to take advantage of attack errors by the Eagles, while Kennedy Wagner, Young and Hansen added kills to keep Clemson on pace. The Tigers never conceded the lead as they went on a 7-3 run to win the opening set, 25-19.
Clemson jumped out to an early lead in the second, but Winthrop strung together two different four-point scoring runs to take the lead. Behind the offensive threat of Joki, McGrath and Azyah Dailey, the Tigers clawed their way back within one point, but fell short of the complete set comeback as the Eagles took set two, 25-21.
The third set was dominated by blocks as Joki, Young, Hansen and McGrath combined on three occasions and Armbruster added a solo block towards the end of the set. The Tigers opened the third set going on a 9-3 run that forced Winthrop to call timeout. Dailey, Joki and Young provided points offensively to keep the point differential at a minimum of three. Joki and McGrath rounded out the 25-20 set win with back-to-back kills.
Similar to the third set, Clemson led off the fourth on a 7-3 run. Hansen, Joki, Young and McGrath continued to push the tempo by adding kills and block assists that put Clemson on a four-point and two-point run to keep the Tigers at a four-point advantage. Taylor added her third ace of the match, and Joki added her second to bring the Tigers to an eight point advantage that continued to be expanded and ultimately led to Clemson clinching the set, 25-14, and sweeping the Black & Gold Invitational weekend.
The Tigers return to Clemson for the 2024 home opener on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. on ACCNX against Kennesaw State inside the newly renovated Jervey Gym. Fans are encouraged to get to the match early on Thursday night as Clemson celebrates the opening of Jervey with a ceremonial first serve from former Head Coach Jolene Hoover prior to the match. Fans can learn more about parking
