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Sept. 13, 2003
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Virginia volleyball team continued its unblemished record with a 3-1 (25-30, 30-17, 30-23, 30-27) victory over Kentucky Saturday evening (September 13) to win the Kentucky Conference Challenge at Memorial Coliseum. UVa is now 11-0 in 2003, which is the best start in program history. Fourth-year libero Whitney Ashcraft (Yorktown, Ind./Burris) was named the MVP of the tournament, while fourth-year outside hitter Paige Davis (Austin, Texas/Westlake) and third-year middle Alexis Geocaris (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) were named to the All-Tournament Team.
The Cavaliers won the tournament with a 3-0 record, marking the third consecutive tournament the team has won in 2003. UVa opened the Kentucky Conference Challenge with a 3-0 win over Wright State Friday. On Saturday morning, Virginia posted a 3-1 win over Syracuse. UVa won the tournament with the 3-1 win over Kentucky. With its 11-0 start, UVa has bettered the 1996 team’s program record 10 consecutive wins to start the season. The Cavaliers have already won two more matches in 2003 than they did last season, as the team was 9-25.
In the win over Kentucky, first-year outside hitter Lindsay Osco (Rosharon, Texas/Elkins) paced all players with 23.5 points and 19 kills. She also added eight digs, three service aces and two blocks. Davis totaled 21.5 points in the match and hit .348 to secure her place on the All-Tournament Team. She had 18 kills, five blocks and three digs. Geocaris joined Davis in earning All-Tournament Team honors and tallied five kills, and seven blocks in the win over Kentucky. Second-year outside hitter Kristin Chaney (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) recorded her second consecutive double-double of the season with 12 kills and 14 digs.
After setting the school record with 42 digs against Syracuse earlier in the day, Ashcraft had a match-high 23 defensive saves against Kentucky en route to earning MVP honors of the tournament. It marks the second consecutive week she has earned tournament MVP accolades.
First-year setter Emily Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla./Plant) notched her first career double-double with 36 assists and a career-best 13 digs. Classmate Kathleen Branagh (Lafayette, Calif./Campolindo) added 18 assists and eight digs.
Liz McCaslin led Kentucky (7-2) with 18 kills and 20 digs, while Sarah Spinner added 15 kills and 12 digs. Melissa Popp also had a double-double with 14 kills and 11 digs, while setter Leigh Marcum was the fourth Kentucky player with a double-double with 51 assists and 18 digs.
Virginia returns to action on Tuesday (September 16) when it travels to Williamsburg, Va. for a 7:00 p.m. match against William & Mary.