CLEMSON, S.C. - Continuing the toughest stretch of matches in school history, the Presbyterian College volleyball squad put forth a tremendous effort but fell twice on the first day of the Clemson Classic, falling to Clemson and Furman.

The Blue Hose now stand at 4-8 on the season.

In the first match of the day, the Lady Tigers bested the Blue Hose by a 3-0 score (25-13, 25-14, 25-16).

Leading the way for PC was junior Amanda Kettles, who notched a match-high nine kills. Rookie Allison Brown had a solid match, hitting .308 on seven kills with just 13 attempts.

Junior Kilee Ruppe dished out 24 assists while Elizabeth Heineman led the way with a match-best 12 digs.

The host institution out-hit head coach Chris Belshe's team .441 to .012. The Blue Hose were unable to hit over the blocks. The Lady Tigers totaled two solo blocks and combined for 26 block assists, tallying 15 total blocks in the match. That accounted for most of the 26 errors that PC had in the contest.

In the nightcap, the Blue Hose fell to Furman by a 3-0 count (26-24, 25-18, 25-21).

Kettles posted a team-high 11 kills while freshman Presley Mabrey nearly reached double figures, tallying nine. Kettles garnered a team-best .219 attack percentage while just three others were over .100.

Kettles had a solid all-around match, notching a service ace, two digs, two solo blocks and three block assists.

Ruppe recorded 26 of the 28 assists on the evening for PC while Alesia Paul and Lisa Shelley dished out one apiece.

Furman took the early lead by four, 10-6 only to see Belshe's team roar back with a 7-1 run to take a 13-11 lead. During the spurt, Kettles had a block and an ace while Mabrey notched a kill. The Paladins also committed a couple of miscues, enabling PC to take the lead.

A time-out by the designated home team quieted the momentum built by the Blue Hose and Furman came back to take a 23-19 lead, forcing Belshe to call time.

Facing set point and trailing by three, Mabrey took a pass from Ruppe and sliced it down in bounds, pulling PC within two, 24-22. Allison Brown posted back-to-back kills, knotting the score at 24 apiece. However, two PC mistakes allowed Furman to take the set, 26-24.

The second set was placed close through the first 24 points as Kettles' block pulled PC within two, trailing 13-11. Despite two time-outs over the next few points, the Blue Hose could inch no closer as Furman went on a 9-4 run to take a 22-15 lead. PC could get no closer, falling 25-18.

In the third set, a service by Natalie Braun put the Blue Hose ahead 8-6. A minute later, the Blue Hose held a 9-7 advantage when Kettles slammed home a ball from Ruppe. Furman would then go on a 6-0 run, taking a 13-9 lead.

The Blue Hose committed a few errors on the ensuing plays, allowing the Paladins to garner a 21-12 advantage. PC would not give up, though. Belshe's squad mounted a comeback as Heineman dropped back to serve. The squad got points from Ruppe, Mabrey and Kettles, eventually whittling the lead to three, 24-21. However, the Blue Hose were unable to stop Kelly Kirby's attack, ending the match.

The Blue Hose return to action tomorrow at 12 p.m., when the squad tangles with No. 17 Michigan State.