Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com

CLEMSON, S.C. – The Virginia volleyball team could not shut down Danielle Hepburn Friday evening in Jervy Gym, as Hepburn led Clemson to a dominating 3-0 (25-14, 25-12, 25-18) win over the Cavaliers. The Tigers earned the season sweep of the Cavaliers with the win and improve to 17-6 on the season and 9-3 in the ACC. Virginia falls to 13-11 on the season and 5-7 in league play.

Hepburn hit a match-high .684 and led all players with 13 kills and five blocks.

Eight Cavaliers tallied kills for Virginia, led by fifth-year Beth Shelton (Cincinnati, Ohio), who knocked down nine. Fourth-year Shannon Davis (Austin, Texas) and second-year Sydney Hill (Kalamazoo, Mich.) each landed six.

Fourth-year Marlow Bruneau (Lakeville, Minn.) and second-year Kelly Irvin (Pacific Palisades, Calif.) set up the offense, distributing 18 and 10 assists, respectively. Second-year A.J. Cushman (Richmond, Va.) landed two service aces and Hill blocked three attacks.

Clemson’s attack came out firing in the first set, landing 11 kills in 23 attempts without committing an error. Led by Hepburn, who found the floor on all five of her swings, the Tigers held Virginia to a .061 clip, en route to a 25-14 victory.

Hepburn opened the second set on a roll for Clemson, landing a kill before blocking an attack to spark a 4-0 run for the Tigers. Clemson’s first attack error of the match gave Virginia its first point of the frame, at 4-1, but the Tigers went on a 13-6 run to pull ahead 17-7. The margin proved to be too much for the Cavaliers and Clemson held on for a 25-12 win.

The Cavaliers kept the third set much closer before falling behind 17-12, following a 6-1 run of the Tigers’ to break open an even 11-11 stanza. Virginia worked to cut into Clemson’s lead, but the Tigers won four of the final five points to go on and win the match, 25-18.

Virginia will look to rebound tomorrow evening at Georgia Tech. Opening serve with the Yellow Jackets is slated for 7 p.m.