Women's Volleyball to Host Jefferson Cup Invitational

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September 17, 1998

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Jefferson Cup Invitational, hosted by the University of Virginia, is set to begin on Friday, (Sept. 18) and will continue through Saturday, (Sept. 19). The tournament will be held in Memorial Gymnasium. Cornell, Georgetown, Virginia Commonwealth and Virginia make up this years field of competition.

Cornell enters the tournament with a record of 2-2. The Big Red opened the season with a 3-0 victory over Lafayette before dropping a 3-0 decision to Buffalo. Cornell bounced right back and won a 3-0 contest over St. Bonaventure, then lost to Northeastern 3-0.

Georgetown enters the Jefferson Cup Invitational on a four-game winning streak. The Hoyas stand at 6-2, and began the season by winning matches against Howard (3-0) and Temple (3-2), before dropping a pair of matches to Michigan (3-1) and Maryland (3-2). Georgetown rebounded after the two losses, and reeled off four consecutive wins over Loyola (3-0), Charleston Southern (3-0), Valparaiso (3-0) and DePaul (3-2).

Virginia Commonwealth comes into the tournament with a record of 4-5. The Rams opened the season with four consecutive losses to: N.C. State (3-0), Austin Peay (3-1), Oakland (3-1) and Indiana State (3-0), before turning things around and winning four out of their last five matches, including four in a row. VCU defeated Chicago State (3-0), Howard (3-0), UNC Greensboro (3-1) and Elon (3-0) before falling to Towson (3-0).

Virginia (8-1) is riding a six-game winning streak into the Jefferson Cup Invitational, and is off to the second best start in the programs 20-year history. In 1996, the Cavaliers began the season with a 10-0 record. Included in the win streak are three victories in the Pepperdine Tournament. UVa defeated Pepperdine (3-2), Akron (3-1) and UC Irvine (3-1) on the way to winning the tournament title. Andrea Fisher, Jessica Parsons and Mary Frances Scott paced Virginia throughout the tournament and were named to the All-Tournament team. Parsons was selected as tournament MVP.

UVa opened the season with wins over William and Mary (3-0) and Buffalo (3-0), before suffering its only lost to Minnesota (3-2). The Cavaliers then defeated Navy (3-0), Loyola (3-0) and Virginia Tech (3-1).

UVa’s all-time record against the teams in the Jefferson Cup Invitational stands at 27-18. UVa leads the series with Virginia Commonwealth (15-12) and Georgetown (12-6). This will be Virginia’s first meeting against Cornell.

The Cavaliers will open tournament action on Friday. Virginia will face VCU at 4:00 p.m., followed by Georgetown vs. Cornell at 6:00 p.m. UVa will then take on Cornell in the nightcap match which is scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m.

Day-two of the tournament features Georgetown vs VCU at 1:00 p.m., followed by VCU vs. Cornell at 3:00 and Virginia vs. Georgetown at 6:00 p.m.

Friday, September 18, 19984:00 p.m.  Virginia vs. Virginia Commonwealth6:00 p.m.  Georgetown vs. Cornell	8:00 p.m.  Cornell vs. Virginia

Saturday, September 19, 19981:00 p.m. Georgetown vs. Virginia Commonwealth3:00 p.m. Virginia Commonwealth vs. Cornell6:00 p.m. Virginia vs. Georgetown