CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia Volleyball team (18-6, 8-5 ACC) downed the Virginia Tech Hokies (7-16, 1-12 ACC) in five sets on Wednesday night (Oct. 6) for the first leg of the home-and-home Smithfield Commonwealth Clash weekend series.
Elayna Duprey led the Cavaliers’ offense with a team-high 13 kills on the evening. Abby Tadder added 12 more kills of her own along with leading UVA on the defensive end with six blocks. Kate Johnson and Zoey Dood each had pair of service aces to aid the attack.
Virginia Tech’s Belle Patrick led all players with 14 kills.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: Virginia Tech 26, Virginia 24
In a highly contested opening set, the two squads traded 3-0 runs that resulted in the visiting Hokies take a 6-3 lead in the early going. Following the opening runs, Virginia and Virginia Tech kept pace with each other until a 24-24 tie when the Hokies tallied the final two points to secure the first game.
Set 2: Virginia 25, Virginia Tech 16
The back-and-forth continued into the second set before UVA took control with a 5-0 run to make it a 12-5 contest. Virginia steadily built a lead and led by as many as seven through the heart of the set. To even the match, the Cavaliers scored five of the final six points in the set.
Set 3: Virginia Tech 25, Virginia 19
Virginia Tech sprinted out to a 10-5 advantage on the heels of a 5-0 run. A Heyli Velasquez service ace made it a three-point contest at 16-13 before the Hokies widened their advantage back out to take the set.
Set 4: Virginia 25, Virginia Tech 19
In the early going of the pivotal fourth set, Virginia constructed a 10-6 lead that put the Cavaliers out front. Virginia Tech got back within a point at 13-12, but the comeback attempt was snuffed out by a 4-0 Cavalier run. A block by Abby Tadder and Kadynce Booth sealed the set for UVA to force a fifth and final set.
Set 5: Virginia 25, Virginia Tech 19
After Virginia Tech scored the opening two points of the set, the Cavaliers flexed their muscles with an 8-1 run. A Hokie comeback was once again thwarted after Virginia Tech made it a 10-7 contest. UVA answered by scoring five of the last six points to take the set and the match.
WITH THE WIN
- With an overall record of 18-6, Virginia is off to its best start since 2003.
- The Eight ACC wins are the most in a season since winning 10 league matches in 2015.
- The Cavaliers move to 7-1 in five-set matches this season.
- Virginia now leads the all-time series with…