WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – After dropping the first two sets, Virginia (11-1, 1-0 ACC) came roaring back to knock off Wake Forest (8-4, 0-1), 13-25, 24-26, 25-23, 25-16, 15-7, at Reynolds Gymnasium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina Friday night (Sept. 27).
With the win, the Hoos are off to their best start since 2004 and are riding an eight-match win streak for the first time since 2006. UVA also recorded its first win in an ACC opener since 2015.
Despite struggling to terminate the ball, the Cavaliers recorded eight service aces and 14 blocks to grind out the win.
Virginia was led by middle blockers Abby Tadder (11 kills, .308 Hit%, 6 blocks) and Kate Dean (8 kills, .294 Hit%, 5 blocks). On the right side, Lauryn Bowie (10 kills, 7 blocks) also contributed with a double-digit kill performance, and her seven blocks are a career high.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: Wake Forest 25, Virginia 13
Wake tallied five blocks in the opening set and held the Cavaliers to only eight kills at the net. The Demon Deacons also served up four aces from behind the service line while UVA had none. Wake, which hit .375 in the first, never trailed and scored the final eight points to close out the first.
Set 2: Wake Forest 26, Virginia 24
Virginia trailed for most of the early part of set No. 2, but secured its first lead of the match, 19-18. The two teams would exchange leads three more times and the Deacs had set points twice before a huge block by Abby Tadder and Zoey Dood knotted the set, 24-24. However, back-to-back Wake kills delivered the second set as it took a 2-0 lead into the intermission.
Set 3: Virginia 25, Wake Forest 23
UVA trailed by as many as four [9-5] early on in the third, but 5-1 and 6-1 runs, respectively, later in the set by the Cavaliers proved to be the difference. The Demon Deacons held a 19-18 lead late in the game when the Hoos registered kills on five of the next seven plays and ultimately led 24-20. UVA had set point when a Wake attack halted its 3-0 run and delivered the Cavaliers’ first set win of the match. Notable stats from set 3?
Set 4: Virginia 25, Wake Forest 16
Set No. 4 was highlighted by a combined six 3-0 runs by the two teams. However, it was the Cavaliers who trailed 12-10 when they embarked on an 8-1 run to take the lead [18-13] for good. UVA recorded six of its 14 total blocks in the fourth, including three by Bowie.
Set 5: Virginia 15, Wake Forest 7
Virginia carried its momentum into the fifth and held the Demon Deacons to only…