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Sept. 26, 2003
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia volleyball team had its 16-match winning streak snapped in a closely contested 3-1 (26-30, 30-26, 30-24, 30-28) loss to Wake Forest Friday (September 26) before a boisterous crowd of 678 at Memorial Gym. The loss snaps UVa’s school record winning streak as the Cavaliers fall to 16-1 overall and 0-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Wake Forest improves to 11-2 overall and 1-0 in the league.
The Demon Deacons, who are ranked among the NCAA leaders in service aces (sixth) and hitting percentage (seventh), used their strengths well in earning the victory. Wake Forest tallied 12 aces and hit a solid .298 in the match. Sophomore Valerie Rydberg paced the Deacs with 24.5 points, totaling 20 kills, 18 digs, four service aces and one block assist.
Fourth-year outside hitter Paige Davis (Austin, Texas/Westlake) posted a team-high 16 kills and added six digs and four blocks for the Cavaliers. Fourth-year middle Shannon Boyle (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) also reached double figures in kills with 10 while hitting .400 and tallying a team-best six blocks. First-year outside hitter Lindsay Osco (Rosharon, Texas/Elkins) recorded a match and career-high 20 digs to go along with nine kills. Second-year outside hitter Kristin Chaney (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) notched a double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs. She also added three blocks and three assists. Third-year middle Alexis Geocaris (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) and third-year outside hitter Celeste Laborde (New Orleans, La./Academy of the Sacred Heart) both contributed eight kills to the Cavalier offense with Geocaris adding three blocks.
First-year setters Emily Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla./Plant) and Kathleen Branagh (Lafayette, Calif./Campolindo) combined for 55 assists with Kirkwood leading the way with 34. She also registered seven defensive saves.
In addition to Rydberg, Wake Forest also received excellent performances Christy Williams and Kim Stern who both notched 14 kills. Stern hit .545 and posted a pair of aces, while Williams hit .478 with six blocks. Setter Erin Borhart handed out 59 assists and also added eight digs, eight kills and two service aces.
UVa, which is also ranked among the NCAA leaders in hitting percentage, fell below its season average of .294 with a .241 hitting percentage against Wake. The Deacs also held a 75-64 advantage in kills and a 62-58 edge in digs.
Virginia never trailed in winning the first game 30-26. In the second game, neither team led by more than four points with Wake pulling out a 30-26 win thanks in part to a .500 hitting percentage. Wake used a run five-point run late in game three to post a 30-24 win. In the fourth and deciding game, UVa rallied from three points down to tie the game at 28-28, but the Demon Deacons used a Rydberg kill and a Peterson ace to close out the match.
Virginia concludes its ACC-opening weekend on Saturday (September 27) with a 1:00 p.m. match against Duke at Memorial Gym. Admission is free of charge.