KENNESAW, Ga. - Santa Clara capped off a successful two days at the KSU Challenge on Saturday with a four-set victory over Clemson.
Led by a season-best 17 kills and 11 digs from Michelle Shaffer, and 11 kills by Sophia Tulino, along with eight kills and a season-best 11 digs by Julia Sangiacomo, the Broncos defeated the Tigers 25-16, 20-25, 25-19, 26-24 at Kennesaw State.
Kat Georgiadis tallied 19 digs and Nive Tuileta registered 40 assists, seven digs and four kills for Santa Clara (3-4), which knocked off 24th-ranked South Carolina on Friday at the event.
Kaylee Martin had 11 kills and Cate Long and Ava Pritchard each posted seven for the Tigers (4-3).
It was the first all-time meeting between the schools.
NOTES
- The Broncos held Clemson to a .168 hitting percentage, the lowest of an opponent this season (previous low was .221 vs. Nevada, Sept. 3) and a season-best 9.0 total blocks.
- One day after posting a season-high 12 service aces, Santa Clara notched 10 against Clemson, including a career-high tying five by Julia Sangiacomo. The team entered the tournament with a total of 19 in its opening five matches.
- Michelle Shaffer (17 kills/12 digs) recorded her third double-double of the season and second straight (16 kills/season-best 12 digs vs. South Carolina).
- Sophia Tulino (five) and Michelle Shaffer (four) combined for nine of the team's 12 kills in the second set. The Broncos scored seven of the first eight points and led by as many as 10 in the set.
- The final two sets combined for 17 ties and eight lead changes. Shaffer had six kills in the final set but the final two came from Tulino. Clemson led 8-5 in the fourth, but for the remainder neither team led by more than two. The Tigers were in position to push to a fifth set, leading 24-23, but Tulino had two kills and the Broncos closed out the match courtesy of a bad set.
- This marked the first all-time meeting between the schools.
QUOTABLE
Our team had another great opportunity today to test our resilience and consistency. Clemson brought great defense to the match both at the net and in the back row. We had to continue to work throughout to find different ways to score. I am proud of our group for staying together and strong especially in the closely contested fourth set to secure the match.
- Head coach Erin Lindsey
NEXT UP
- Sunday, Sept. 12 at Auburn (11:30 a.m. PT)
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