NEW ORLEANS, LA – The Huskies claimed a dominant set two, but couldn't outlast Clemson in a four set thriller (23-25, 25-12, 20-25, 20-25) to commence the Tulane Invitational at Devlin Fieldhouse.

In a back-and-forth start to the opening set, the Huskies (4-6) tied the game at 14-14 with a kill by Alexia Jones. The Tigers (7-3) scored six of the next eight points to take a commanding 20-16 lead before HCU fought back with an ace by Tatiana Evans and a kill by Jones to force a Tiger timeout at 22-20. After giving up a kill to Clemson's Kate Simington, the Huskies scored three straight points including back-to-back blocks by Cassidy Drapela to tie the game at 23-23 forcing the second Clemson timeout in four points. An attacking error and a block gave the Tigers the edge to take set one, 25-23.

Quickly rebounding, the Huskies came out firing in the second set scoring the first three points with a kill by Lexie Temple and back-to-back blocks including a half block by Ana Gadway and Audrey Pearce, and a solo block by Jones. HCU took a commanding 8-3 lead forcing an early Clemson timeout. The Huskies scored the first three points off the timeout including back-to-back kills by Grace McLaughlin and Pearce and forced the Tigers last timeout of the set at 16-8. HCU scored five straight points out of the break ending with an Ana Gadway kill coasting the Huskies to a, 25-12, set victory.

In a third set controlled by the Tigers, the Huskies tied the game at 7-7 before Clemson tallied seven of the next nine points to force a timeout by HCU's Trent Herman. At 23-16, HCU clawed their way back scoring three straight points off of kills by Drapela and Kaley Feris and another ace by Evans to force a Tigers timeout at 23-19. Clemson closed out a, 25-20, set three win with a solo block by Katie Hurta.

In the decisive fourth set, Clemson started with a hot streak scoring six of the first seven points. The Tigers kept the momentum, forcing timeouts by HCU at 11-5 and 14-5. At 20-8, the Huskies battled back scoring four straight capped off by back-to-back kills by Sara Arroyo into the Tigers first timeout. After giving up two straight points and clinging to a 22-12 deficit, the Huskies racked off seven straight points to get back to within three points at 22-19. Clemson closed out the match 25-20 on back-to-back errors by the Huskies.

HCU was led by right-side Anna Gadway with 10 kills and four blocks. Alexia Jones added eight kills and 15 digs while McLaughlin recorded her fourth double-double of the season dishing out 39 assists along with 13 digs. Feris continues to lead the SLC adding 13 digs for a total of 155 on the year.

The Tigers were led by Katie Hurta with nine kills. Audrey Armbruster dished out 19 assists while Devan Taylor led Clemson's defense with 23 digs.

HCU continues the Tulane Invitational taking on UTEP on Friday at 3 p.m. at Devlin Fieldhouse in New Orleans.