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Sept. 6, 2004
GREENSBORO, N.C. – University of Virginia first-year volleyball player Sarah Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla./Plant) has been selected as the Atlantic Coast Conference Volleyball Player of the Week as announced Monday (September 6). In addition, Kirkwood, along with first-year Melissa Caldwell (Houston, Texas/Stratford), were named to the University of Louisville Courtyard by Marriot Tournament All-Tournament Team for their outstanding play. The tournament was held September 3-4.
Kirkwood becomes the first UVa volleyball player since the 2000 season to earn ACC Player of the Week honors. Deanna Zwarich was UVa’s previous ACC Player of the Week selection on November 6, 2000. Kirkwood, an outside hitter, had a tremendous opening week of the season. She tallied 85 kills in four matches for 6.07 kills per game and posted an impressive .374 hitting percentage. Kirkwood also led UVa with seven service aces and totaled 93.5 points in four matches (14 games).
In her collegiate debut against William & Mary on September 1, Kirkwood tallied 22 kills and posted a .559 hitting percentage while recording three service aces. Against 20th-ranked Louisville on September 3, Kirkwood led UVa with a career-best 28 kills and 28.5 points. In matches against Jacksonville State and Loyola (Md.) on September 4, Kirkwood notched 17 and 18 kills, respectively. She also recorded three service aces and six digs against Jacksonville State and hit .500 against Loyola.
Caldwell also joined Kirkwood on the University of Louisville Courtyard by Marriot Tournament All-Tournament Team. Caldwell, a libero, tallied 61 digs in three tournament matches (11 games). In the first match of the tournament against Louisville, Caldwell tallied a career-high 24 digs and then surpassed that total with 26 digs against Jacksonville State. She also had 11 defensive saves against Loyola.
Virginia returns to action on Wednesday (September 8) when it hosts in-state rival Virginia Commonwealth at 7:00 p.m. at Memorial Gym. Admission is free of charge.