CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – After earning its first conference win of the season over Florida State on Friday (Oct. 14), the Virginia volleyball team (9-10, 1-7 ACC) came up short Sunday afternoon (Oct. 16), falling 25-22, 29-31, 12-25, 7-25 to Miami (11-8, 4-4 ACC) at Memorial Gymnasium.
Virginia was led by outside hitter Grace Turner, who finished Sunday’s contest with 16 kills on 38 swings. Setter Gabby Easton dished out a season-high 36 assists and libero Heyli Velasquez tallied a career-best 15 digs.
Miami was led by Angela Grieve (20 kills) and Nyah Anderson (14 kills).
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Miami led 8-7 to open the first before the Cavaliers embarked on a 7-1 run to gain a 14-9 advantage and shift momentum in their favor. Miami chipped away at the UVA lead – with the help of a 4-0 Hurricanes’ run – and eventually tied the set, 22-22. Turner’s seventh kill of the frame followed by her 15th career block solo gave the Hoos set point, 24-22. The following play, Miami registered its eighth attack error of the set, which solidified game No. 1 in UVA’s favor, 25-22. Virginia hit .333 in the first, while Turner led the Cavaliers with seven kills and hit .417.
- The second set, which featured 19 tied scores and five lead changes, was close throughout as neither team ever led by more than three points. Despite hitting .348 with 19 kills, six UVA service errors proved to be the difference in the second. Miami had set point, 24-21, before the Cavaliers scored three straight to tie the game, 24-24. Virginia had set point, 26-25, after Turner and Veresia Yon posted back-to-back kills. Once again, Turner finished the set with seven kills, including UVA’s final point of the game to tie things up, 29-29. However, back-to-back Hurricane kills sealed the set win for Miami, 31-29, and tied the match, 1-1, heading into the break. Yon was sensational late in set No. 2, posting three of her four total kills after Miami had the initial set point.
- Coming out of the break, the Hurricanes leaped out to a 7-0 lead and did not look back. Miami went on to manufacture five and four-point unanswered scoring runs during the third, which the Hurricanes won handily, 25-12. Virginia had just eight kills in game No. 3, while Miami tallied 15.
- The Cavaliers grasped a 2-1 lead early in the fourth before Miami scored 11 straight points. The Hurricanes went on to score eight of the last nine points to claim the fourth, 25-7, and match, 3-1.
NOTES
- Outside hitter…