Upcoming Event: Volleyball versus #25 North Carolina on October 4, 2025 at 2 PM
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2 PM
Volleyball
vs #25 North Carolina
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Saturday, September 24
Durham, N.C.
8:00 PM
Duke University
3
vs
2
Clemson
Duke Outlasts Clemson 3-2 in Five-Set Thriller
9/24/2011 11:43:00 PM | Volleyball
DURHAM, N.C. - In one of the greatest matches of the 2011 college volleyball season, Duke outlasted Clemson over five sets in a 3-2 victory (27-25, 19-25, 23-25, 25-17, 25-23) in front of 1,238 fans in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
The fifth set was the longest in both schools' history during the rally scoring era and featured a combined 10 match-point opportunities from both teams. Clemson jumped out to a 14-13 lead, but Duke (8-4, 2-1 ACC) went on to fight off four straight match-point opportunities and took over with a 19-18 lead. Clemson (10-4, 2-1 ACC) spoiled Duke's chances as well, however, and fought off three chances Duke had to win the match. Eventually a Clemson serving error put Duke ahead 24-23, and senior Sophia Dunworth gave Duke the win with her 16th kill of the night.
"This was really a great volleyball match between two teams that were both very deserving to come out on top," Duke head coach Jolene Nagel said. "This match tonight presented us a great opportunity to show our teamwork when faced with adversity. I think the team showed that they were capable of finishing strong which is something that we've wanted to work on. Being able to come out on top in a match like this will help us continue to take another step in the development of our team."
Junior middle blocker Christiana Gray was a force for the Blue Devils, connecting for a career-high 17 kills on a .438 hitting percentage. Gray made just three errors the entire night and was almost perfect in the fifth set, finishing 5-for-6 in the final game with no errors. Gray also posted five blocks to help hold the Tigers to a .187 hitting percentage.
Gray was one of four Duke players with 10 or more kills, leading Dunworth (16), Amanda Robertson (16) and Megan Hendrickson (14). All-American setter Kellie Catanach topped 60 assists and recorded a double-double with a season-high 19 digs. The double-double was her team- leading seventh of the year and one of three in the match for Duke as Robertson also had 17 digs and Hendrickson finished with 14.
Duke allowed just two service aces for the entire night thanks to libero Ali McCurdy and Hendrickson. Those two should the bulk of Duke's receiving duties and allowed the Tigers - who average 1.44 aces per set - to drop in only of their 115 attempts for points. McCurdy racked up 31 digs in the contest, joining the 30-dig club for the second time this season. McCurdy leads the ACC with 253 digs and an average of 5.38 digs per set. She was one of five Blue Devils to record double digits in the category, leading Catanach (19), Robertson, Nailah Waterfield (16) and Hendrickson (14).
The win follows a 3-0 sweep over Georgia Tech on Friday night and gives the Blue Devils 15 straight wins over ACC teams in Cameron Indoor Stadium. It also marked the combined 10th straight victories over Georgia Tech and Clemson, which are annually regarded as two of the toughest travel partners in the ACC.
Up next for the Blue Devils is a trip south where they will face a pair of ranked teams in No. 21 Miami and No. 22 Florida State on Friday and Sunday, Sept. 30-Oct. 2. Those two schools have a combined 19-5 overall record this year.
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