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Sept. 20, 2003
DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Virginia volleyball team continued its torrid start in 2003 with a 3-0 (30-20, 30-25, 30-15) victory over Davidson to win the National Invitational Saturday evening (September 20) in Belk Arena. The Cavaliers finished the tournament with a 4-0 record and are now 16-0 on the season, to extend their best start and longest winning streak in school history. UVa won all four matches in the tournament by 3-0 scores. Earlier in the day Saturday, UVa defeated Gardner-Webb 3-0 (30-18, 30-19, 30-11).
Virginia’s team title in the National Invitational marks the fourth straight tournament the Cavaliers have won in their silver anniversary season. UVa also won the Tiger Classic (August 29-30), the Jefferson Cup (September 5-6) and the Kentucky Conference Challenge (September 12-13) this season. Third-year middle Alexis Geocaris (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. In the match against Davidson, she tallied 13 kills, a .440 hitting percentage, five digs and three blocks. First-year outside hitter Lindsay Osco (Rosharon, Texas/Elkins) was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Fourth-year outside hitter Paige Davis (Austin, Texas/Westlake) matched Geocaris for team-high honors in kills with 13 and added four digs and two service aces. Fourth-year middle Shannon Boyle (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) and third-year outside hitter Celeste Laborde (New Orleans, La./Academy of the Sacred Heart) registered eight and seven kills, respectively. Boyle also had three blocks and three digs, while Laborde hit .500.
Fourth-year libero Whitney Ashcraft (Yorktown, Ind./Burris) recorded a match-high 22 digs to lead the Cavaliers’ defensive effort. First-year setter Emily Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla./Plant) posted 27 assists and eight digs, while first-year setter Kathleen Branagh (Lafayette, Calif./Campolindo) contributed 11 assists, three digs and a pair of blocks. Second-year outside hitter Kristin Chaney (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) and Osco registered nine and eight digs, respectively. Both players also had five kills and two blocks.
Latisha Chapman paced Davidson (7-7) with 17 kills, nine digs and five blocks. Setter Nicole Tonelli registered the only double-double of the match with 30 assists and 11 digs.
UVa hit .287 in the match while the Wildcats hit only .089. The Cavaliers registered 53 kills to Davidson’s 34 and also held a slight 64-62 edge in digs.
Virginia returns to action on Friday, September 26 when it opens Atlantic Coast Conference play with a 7:00 p.m. match against Wake Forest. The Cavaliers play their home matches at Memorial Gym and admission is free of charge.