Leahy’s 18 Kills Lead Gamecocks to 3-1 Win Over Clemson
CLEMSON, S.C. – The South Carolina volleyball team (5-2, 0-0 SEC) defeated Clemson (5-3, 0-0 ACC) 3-1 on Friday evening in the Jervey Gym, extending the 2026 Palmetto Series record to 3-0.
The Gamecocks had a strong offensive presence to overcome the first set loss, with four players notching more than 10 kills led by Ava Leahy with 18. The team also had a season high 61 kills and 69 digs. Additionally, two players had career highs.
1st SET: South Carolina opened the match with momentum, racing out to a 4-0 run backed by kills from Elise Marchal and Olivia Borgman and a block from Sydney Davis and Marchal. A Gamecock service error ended the run, and Clemson cut the deficit to 5-2 with back-to-back points. The Tigers continued to apply pressure, tying the set at 6-6 behind two kills from their setter before taking their first lead, 7-6, on a block. South Carolina quickly tied it at 8-8, and the teams continued to trade points, with neither side leading by more than two. After trailing by two, a solo block from Ava Leahy followed by a Leahy-Marchal block put the Gamecocks back in front, 14-13. Clemson again took a brief lead before South Carolina answered to tie it at 18-18. The teams continued to exchange points and leads, with Clemson reaching set point at 23-22 following an ace that forced a Gamecock timeout. South Carolina fought back to tie the set at 24-24 before taking a 25-24 lead on a dominant Leahy kill. The teams battled through extra points, but Clemson ultimately claimed the opening set, 30-28, to take a 1-0 lead.
2nd SET: The teams carried the tightly contested battle into the second frame, trading points early before Clemson built a 11-7 lead following a 4-0 run. The Gamecocks answered with a 4-0 run of their own, tying it at 11-11 behind kills from Ceci Vance and Borgman and an ace from Elizabeth McElveen. Clemson later created a five-point gap at 19-14, but South Carolina quickly fought back, with two kills and a solo block from Leahy cutting the deficit to 19-18. Leahy then hammered down her 10th kill of the night, recording three kills during the run to tie it at 19-19. The teams continued to trade blocks and kills, with neither leading by more than one. South Carolina reached set point at 24-22 after McElveen’s second ace, but Clemson answered with two straight points to tie it. The Gamecocks ultimately secured the set, 25-23, on a successful challenge reversal to even the match at 1-1.
3rd SET: The Tigers jumped to a 2-0 lead, but the Gamecocks quickly responded with a 4-0 run backed by kills from Borgman, Leahy and Marchal and a Marchal-Leahy block. Clemson tied it at 4-4, but South Carolina regained control, building a 10-7 lead behind a Davis-Kiana Dinn block and Clemson set error. The Tigers answered with a 4-1 run to tie it at 11-11, and the teams continued to trade points before Clemson pulled ahead 18-16. The Gamecocks chipped away at the deficit with a Leahy kill and Lilly Gillespie ace to tie it at 20-20. South Carolina then closed on a 7-0 run, including three Leahy kills and one from Marchal, to reach set point at 24-20. The Gamecocks ultimately claimed the set following an inconclusive challenge, taking a 2-1 lead.
4th SET: The Gamecocks controlled the set early, building a 7-4 lead after a 6-1 run fueled by kills and blocks from Borgman, Leahy and Marchal to force a Clemson timeout. South Carolina maintained its advantage before the Tigers chipped away, eventually tying it at 9-9. Clemson briefly took the lead at 11-10, but the Gamecocks responded with a 3-0 run to go up 14-11. South Carolina extended its lead to 20-17 before Clemson pulled within one and eventually tied it at 22-22. Two more Leahy kills put the Gamecocks at set point, 24-23, and, like the previous two sets, South Carolina closed out the set following a failed Clemson challenge.
Notables
- Four Gamecocks had 10 or more kills; Ava Leahy (18), Ceci Vance (13 – career high), Olivia Borgman (12) and Elise Marchal (11).
- Leahy had a season high 18 kills.
- Marchal and Sydney Davis had 5 blocks apiece.
- Kiana Dinn set a new career high in assists for the second time this season, passing out 42.
- Two players had double-doubles; Dinn with 42 assists and 10 digs, and Borgman with 12 kills and 12 digs.
- Gillespie led the team with 23 digs.
- Marchal neared a double-double, earning nine digs.
Up Next: The Gamecocks have a quick turnaround, heading to Wofford tomorrow, Saturday, September 12th for a 4:00 p.m. first serve.
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