CLEMSON, S.C. – Down two sets to none, the Wofford volleyball team battled back to force a fifth frame and held match point against the Clemson Tigers, but the Terriers narrowly fell short Saturday evening in Jervey Gym in a five-set loss (15-25, 13-25, 25-20, 26-24, 14-16). Wofford moves to 2-5 on the season as Clemson improves to 9-0.
 
The Tigers held a hitting advantage, .192 to .095, despite committing seven more errors, 32-25. Aces were even between the teams at five apiece, but Wofford kept it cleaner with eight errors on the service line to the 15 of the Tigers. The Terriers were dominant on the block with 10 denials, a season high for the squad.
 
Wofford's attack was led by Natalie Arnold with a career-high 13 kills. Annemarie Rakoski and Chloe Smith each posited seven behind her with Rakoski hitting a team-best .313 with only two errors on 16 attempts. Taylor Pecht fed the attack with 22 assists, and Maddy Frazier added 14. Pecht's 18 digs led the team and afforded the junior her first double-double of the season (23^rd career).
 
Laney Klika and Smith each had 17 digs behind Pecht. Caroline Przystup added seven in her first start of the season. At the net, Rakoski was a force with 10 blocks to match her career high and tie for the fourth-highest total by a Terrier in a single match ever. Arnold added five blocks to also match her career best, and Smith posted four.
 
Klika's two aces led the team. Smith, Przystup, and Frazier each had one behind her.
 
Clemson opened the match with a 7-1 lead in set one, but Maddy Frazier broke the Tiger run with a dump kill. The Terriers began their attempts to chip away not long after with a couple kills by Natalie Arnold and two by Bradley Brown. Annemarie Rakoski struck with a score to pull Wofford within 17-9. After three Tiger scores, Arnold went back-to-back on kills to bring the Terriers within 20-11. Despite a big solo block late by Charlotte Bell, Wofford was unable to make up the initial deficit, dropping the opening frame 25-15.
 
Wofford kept set two close at the onset, as a Chloe Smith kill tied the set 2-2 before Annemarie Rakoski delivered a solo block for the lead. The teams traded blows with Natalie Arnold's kill tying the set once more at 6-6. However, the Tigers claimed the following six points for a 12-6 advantage. Bradley Brown's kill broke the run, but it proved to be too much of a hole to climb back out of as Clemson won the set 25-13.
 
Refusing to quit, the Terriers battled with authority in set three. Chloe Smith opened the frame with a kill, and Annemarie Rakoski and Natalie Arnold teamed on a block to follow. The teams would trade blows and remain within a step of each other from there until the middle goings. Leading 13-11, the Terriers saw a kill from Rakoski and back-to-back aces by Laney Klika for a 16-11 advantage. The Tigers pushed back to within 19-17, but an error provided a sideout that Wofford took advantage of with a Rakoski-Chloe Smith block. Another error made the Terrier lead 22-17. Clemson won a pair before Rakoski delivered a solo denial for a 23-19 lead. Clemson recorded a kill, but Rakoski and Arnold's block created set point, and a Clemson error provided the set to Wofford, 25-20.
 
Set four was another see-saw affair. The teams truly jostled for the lead with neither side leading by multiple scores until Clemson held a 14-12 lead. However, Charlotte Bell immediately brought Wofford within one on a kill. The Tigers went ahead by three at 17-14, but a pair of errors kept Wofford in striking distance. Clemson would lead 21-19 before Chloe Smith put home a kill. A Tiger error tied the set at 21, but Clemson responded with a kill to pull back in front. The relentless Terriers got to work, with Annemarie Rakoski and Smith each putting home kills for a 23-22 lead. Clemson garnered the next two points for match point, but an error on the serve kept Wofford alive. The Terriers took advantage, as Emily Normand recorded a kill with the aid of head coach Lynze Roos issuing a well-time challenge. A Clemson error on the following point necessitated a fifth frame as Wofford clinched the fourth, 26-24.
 
Set five was again a nip-and-tuck affair. Clemson held a lead at 11-9, but two errors tied it and provided life to the Terriers. Annemarie Rakoski and Natalie Arnold sent home back-to-back kills for a 13-11 edge. Clemson claimed the next two points to tie the set, but Arnold struck once more for a 14-13 lead an match point. Clemson pulled level, however, and used the momentum to notch the next two points and the match.
 
After a hearty showing, the Terriers will hit the court again on Monday, September 15, against South Carolina. The contest in Columbia is set for 7:00 p.m.