Eagles Topple Tigers in ACC Opener

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – The Boston College volleyball team opened the ACC season with a statement, sweeping Clemson on Friday evening in Power Gym, 25-17, 25-17, 25-19.

The Eagles (11-2, 1-0 ACC) forced the Tigers (9-5, 0-1 ACC) into negative attack percentages in two of the three sets and held Clemson to a negative .013 clip (26 kills – 27 errors – 80 total attempts) through the match. BC hit a .147 percent (29 – 18 – 75) while out blocking the Tigers 12-10.

Junior Cat Balido led BC in kills with 11 and added four total blocks while junior Jane DeJarld and sophomore Madison McKnight shared the team high in assists with 11 each.

On defense, junior Makenzie Morrison recorded a match-high nine digs while sophomore Amaka Chukwujekwu joined Balido in the team lead with four blocks.

Boston College 3, Clemson 0
September 21, 2018
Chestnut Hill, Mass. | Power Gym

BC HIGHLIGHTS
- The Eagles served up a season-high eight aces against the Tigers, led by sophomore Clare Naughton with three. Junior Jill Strockis added two while Jane DeJarld, Makenzie Morrison and Madison McKnight each tallied one. Clemson only aced the Eagles once.
- BC recorded nine solo blocks, also a season-high mark.
- BC opened ACC play with a win for the first time since the 2014 season when the Eagles secured a 3-2 victory over Louisville.
- Cat Balido led the team with 11 kills, her seventh match of the year hitting double-digits.
- BC held Clemson, the conference leader in kills and second-place in kills-per-set, to just 26 kills and a negative .013 attack percentage.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 – The Eagles secured a 25-17 win over Clemson in the first set, holding the Tigers to their lowest attack percentage of the night (-.077). Clemson opened up a slight 5-2 lead to begin the set but BC quickly tied the score at 6-6. The teams traded points, remaining tied until BC went on a 7-2 tear that put the Eagles ahead 15-11 and forced a Tigers' timeout. Clemson stole two points back but took another break after two CU attack errors helped give the Eagles a 17-13 advantage. BC doubled up on the Tigers out of the break, going 8-4 to close out the set with a 25-17 win.

Set 2 – Clemson again began the frame with a lead, 4-0, and widened the gap to 7-2 at the Eagles' timeout. The teams went point-for-point, with BC trailing 11-5, until the Eagles took off with 10 unanswered points, leading 15-11. BC took three of the next five, leading 18-13 at the Clemson timeout, before the Tigers closed in, 20-17, with a 4-2 run. The Eagles held out and took the final five points in order, winning 25-17 and taking a 2-0 lead.

Set 3 – BC saw some of its best hitting of the night in set three, committing just three errors on 19 attempts (.316). The Eagles opened up a 4-1 lead on Clemson, a three-point gap that would hold as the teams split the next 16 down the middle, 12-9. BC took three of five, prompting Clemson to use a timeout trailing 15-11. The Tigers would quickly use up another regroup after BC went 4-2 to open up a 19-13 advantage. Clemson errors proved to be costly, as BC took three of its final six points on Tiger mistakes, winning the set 25-19 to secure the sweep.

UP NEXT
Boston College will face Georgia Tech on Sunday, Sept. 23, at 1 p.m. in Power Gym.

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Team Stats

Cat Balido

McKenna Goss

Clare Naughton

Ally Mullen

Players Mentioned

Cat Balido

Amaka Chukwujekwu

Jane DeJarld

Madison McKnight

Makenzie Morrison

Clare Naughton

Jill Strockis

Players Mentioned

Cat Balido

Amaka Chukwujekwu

Jane DeJarld

Madison McKnight

Makenzie Morrison

Clare Naughton

Jill Strockis