CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Off to its best start through nine matches since 2008, the Virginia volleyball team (7-2) defeated East Carolina (4-6), 25-14, 24-26, 25-15, 25-16, in the Cavaliers’ first of two matches on Friday (Sept. 16) afternoon in Memorial Gymnasium.
The Hoos were led by right side hitter Chloe Wilson, who terminated a match-high 15 kills, which tied her career high, and hit .480. Grace Turner notched her eighth career double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs. Abby Tadder (10 kills, .571 hit%, 4 blocks) and Mary Shaffer (10 kills, .333 hit%) also reached double-digit kills and hit above .300.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Virginia won set No. 1 with ease, 25-14, which tied for its largest margin of victory in a single set so far this season. The Cavaliers hit .481 with 17 kills, while holding ECU to just eight kills and a .136 hitting percentage. Brooklyn Borum and Chloe Wilson posted four kills apiece in the opening frame, while Grace Turner successfully passed all 11 Pirate serves fired in her direction. The score was tied 9-9 before UVA went on a 6-0 run to grasp a comfortable six-point lead and then closed out the set by tallying the last five points.
- Despite trailing by as many as five (13-8), East Carolina came back to win set No. 2, 26-24, to even the match after two. The Cavaliers hit just .167 after recording eight attack errors in addition to four service errors. Virginia had set point, 24-21, but the Pirates tallied five straight to complete the comeback.
- Virginia put together a 7-1 run in the middle of the third to gain a 19-9. The Cavaliers were able to sustain their 10-point lead the rest of the way as they went on to win it, 25-15. Tadder put down all four balls set to her way and had two block assists in game No. 3.
- Virginia carried its momentum in the fourth, jumping out to a 6-1 advantage with the help of four ECU errors during that stretch. A four-point deficit at 11-7 was as close the Pirates would come in set No. 4 as a 5-0 UVA run later in the set ultimately put the set out of reach, which the Cavaliers won, 25-16, while also claiming the match, 3-1. Wilson tallied five kills on eight swings and the UVA defense held the Pirates to a .108 hitting percentage in the final frame.
NOTES
- With the win, Virginia improved to 7-2 on the season, marking its best start through its first nine matches since 2014.
- With the win, UVA took a 5-4 lead in the all-time series against the Pirates and extended their series win streak…