PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers volleyball team closed out nonconference play on Friday with a 3-1 victory over ETSU and dropped a 3-0 match with host Clemson at the Big Orange Bash.

The Scarlet Knights end non-Big Ten action at 8-3 overall marking their best nonconference record since 2012.


Rutgers 3, ETSU 0
 

STANDOUT STATS

• Shealyn McNamara swung for 18 kills, not only a new career-high but the most kills by a Scarlet Knight this season. The redshirt senior committed just one attack error and ended the match hitting .607. Additionally, she registered a game-high four blocks.
• Fifth-year senior Beka Kojadinovic recorded her third double-double of the year with 13 kills and 14 digs along with a trio of rejections at the net.
• Senior Inna Balyko also notched a double-double, her fourth of the 2021 campaign, with 49 assists and 10 digs.
• Sophomore Madyson Chitty was also in double-figure digs with 13.
• Both Chitty and senior Anastasiia Maksimova logged three service aces. Maksimova was also in double-digit kills with 10.

KEY MOMENTS

• Set 1 (26-24) | Rutgers worked its way to an 18-14 edge but ETSU rattled off five unanswered points to take the lead 19-18. Five ties ensued before the set went to the Scarlet Knights behind a pair of errors by the Buccaneers. Kojadinovic hit .750 in the set with kills on six of her eight attempts while defensively collected six digs.
• Set 2 (25-23) | The Scarlet Knights called time midway thru a tight set and came out of the huddle to go on a 4-0 run to establish an 18-16 advantage and a lead they would not relinquish. While ETSU did manage to knot the score at 23-23, Rutgers prevailed with a Shealyn McNamara swing capturing set point. McNamara contributed five kills on six attempts in helping Rutgers go up 2-0 behind a game-best .321 hitting percentage for the frame.
• Set 3 (25-27) | RU led early and three kills by Megan Vernon saw the Scarlet Knights up 22-16. The Buccaneers, however, scored seven-straight to control the frame late to take a 23-22 lead. Rutgers was able to take three of the next four points to set up match points, but ETSU thwarted the sweep with three-straight kills. Anastasiia Maksimova led RU with five kills.
• Set 4 (25-22) | Rutgers wrapped up the match overcoming nine ties and three lead changes. With the final tie at 13-13, kills by Kamila Cieslik and Inna Balyko gave the Scarlet Knights the lead for good and RU went ahead by as many as five. McNamara garnered points on six of her seven swings hitting .857 in the final set. Madyson Chitty also served up a pair of aces.

KNIGHT NOTES

• Shea McNamara's 18 kills are the most since teammate Beka Kojadinovic collected 19 in a 3-0 victory over Maryland on Mar. 27, 2021.
• Inna Balyko's 49 helpers are the most by the senior setter this season.
• Balyko posted her 25^th career double-double while Kojadinovic collected career double-double number 16.

Clemson 3, Rutgers 0
 

STANDOUT STATS

• Beka Kojadinovic was shy of her second-straight double-double on the day finishing the contest with nine kills and 10 digs.
• Inna Balyko was also short of back-to-back double-doubles with 21 assists and nine digs.
• At the net, graduate student Megan Vernon led the defense with three blocks.

KEY MOMENTS

• Set 1 (19-25) | Rutgers worked its way in front at 13-11 but Clemson scored seven unanswered to take control of the opening set. The two squads traded the next 10 points before the Tigers took the 1-0 lead.
• Set 2 (19-25) | Beka Kojadinovic knotted the frame at 5-5 but Clemson followed with a 5-0 run to stay in front for good. Rutgers closed the gap with a late 4-0 surge, including a pair of aces for Kojadinovic, and trailed by only two, 18-16. The two teams traded points over the next seven services followed by the Tigers ending the frame with four consecutive scores. Megan Vernon captured four kills and swung .571.
• Set 3 (16-25) | Another big run by the Tigers led the hosts to take the match. Two kills from Alissa Kinkela had Rutgers down by two at 9-7 when Clemson proceeded with seven straight.

TOURNAMENT NOTES

• Beka Kojadinovic averaged 3.14 kills and 3.43 digs per set with four blocks and three aces.
• Inna Balyko averaged 10.0 assists and 2.71 digs over the two games on Friday.

UP NEXT

• The Scarlet Knights kick Big Ten action at home with No. 20 Penn State on Friday, Sept. 24 and No. 2 Wisconsin on Saturday, Sept. 25 at the RAC. Both games serve up action 7:00 p.m. with video coverage available on Big Ten Plus with Pat Boyle.
• Admission to all Rutgers volleyball games is free.
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