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Aug. 31, 2001
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia volleyball team kicked off its 2001 season with a 3-0 (30-25, 30-26, 30-28) victory over Radford Friday afternoon (August 31) in the Jefferson Cup Tournament at University Hall. In the first match of the tournament, 10th-ranked Stanford defeated 15th-ranked Minnesota 3-0 (30-27, 30-27, 30-17).
Third-year middle Simona Kuipers (Bow Island, Alberta, Canada/Senator Gershaw) led the Cavaliers to the 3-0 victory with nine kills and three blocks, while second-year middle Shannon Boyle (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) added eight kills and two blocks. Second-year setter Abby Whittenburg (Amarillo, Texas/Amarillo) dished out 26 assists and a team-high nine digs.
Radford’s Sarah Gates posted a match-high 12 kill, while Katie Sherwood added nine kills, nine digs and three service aces. Setter Bliss Mulligan dished out a match-high 28 assists and notched three service aces.
Virginia hit .165 as a team in the match, compared to the Highlanders’ .046. UVa also posted five team blocks to Radford’s one. Both teams had 31 digs, while Radford held an 11-7 edge in service aces.
In the first match of the tournament, #10 Stanford had three players reach double figures in kills in a 3-0 win over #15 Minnesota. Olympian and All-American Logan Tom led the way for the Cardinal with 16 kills and 10 digs, while Ashley Ivy also notched a double-double with 13 kills and 10 digs and registered five blocks as well. Ogonna Nnamani was the third Stanford player in double figures in kills as she totaled 12. Setter Robyn Lewis tallied a match-high 46 assists and also contributed seven digs on defense.
Erin Martin led the Golden Gophers with 11 kills, while Stephanie Hagen and Cassie Busse had seven kills apiece. Lindsey Berg recorded 27 assists, three service aces, and six digs for Minnesota.
Stanford hit an impressive .343 in the match, while the Golden Gophers only managed to hit .105. The Cardinal also held a 41-27 edge in digs.
The Jefferson Cup Tournament continues this evening with two matches. At 5:00 p.m., Radford plays #10 Minnesota, and at 7:30 p.m. Virginia hosts #10 Stanford.