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Sept. 13, 2003
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Virginia volleyball team defeated Syracuse 3-1 (30-19, 26-30, 30-21, 30-20) Saturday morning (September 13) in the Kentucky Conference Challenge for its 10th consecutive victory to tie the school record for the best start in school history. Defensively, fourth-year libero Whitney Ashcraft (Yorktown, Ind./Burris) had a phenomenal match, setting the school record with 42 digs.
The Cavaliers have tied the 1996 team’s mark of 10 straight wins to start the season. UVa can set a new record for consecutive wins to start a season tonight when it plays Kentucky at 7:00 p.m. at Memorial Coliseum in the final match of the Kentucky Conference Challenge.
With her 42 digs, Ashcraft bettered Anne Marie Hammers’ former record of 41 digs in a match against N.C. State on November 1, 1991. Ashcraft averaged an amazing 10.5 digs per game against the Orangewomen. Her former career high was 33 digs against George Mason earlier this season. She also added four assists and a kill against Syracuse.
Fourth-year outside hitter Paige Davis (Austin, Texas/Westlake) led the Cavalier offense with 22 kills, a .432 hitting percentage, and a match-high 24 points. Davis also added five digs and four blocks. Third-year middle Alexis Geocaris (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) contributed 13 kills, a .357 hitting percentage and three blocks. Second-year outside hitter Kristin Chaney (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) recorded her first double-double of the season with 10 kills and 14 digs. First-year outside hitter Lindsay Osco (Rosharon, Texas/Elkins) notched a career-high 19 digs to go along with nine kills, two blocks and two assists. Fourth-year middle Shannon Boyle (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) and third-year outside hitter Celeste Laborde (New Orleans, La./Academy of the Sacred Heart) both had eight kills with Boyle adding a match-best six blocks and three service aces.
First-year setters Emily Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla./Plant) and Kathleen Branagh (Lafayette, Calif./Campolindo) combined for 56 assists. Kirkwood had 36 assists, nine digs and three service aces, while Branagh had 20 assists and three digs.
Morgan Jones led Syracuse (7-3) with 16 kills and 17.5 points. Christen Casey topped the Orangewomen with 24 digs, while Kelly Duan had 19 digs and five kills.
The Cavaliers held a big advantage in several statistical categories, including a .253 to .118 margin in hitting percentage. UVa held a 73-47 edge in kills and a 103-85 advantage in digs. Virginia also held a slight 7-5 advantage in team blocks.