Virginia Volleyball Falls In ACC Quarterfinals
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Nov. 19, 2004
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – After three consecutive upsets in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship, the University of Virginia volleyball team couldn’t convert for the fourth upset of the day as the sixth-seeded Cavaliers fell to third-seeded Duke 3-0 (30-27, 30-19, 30-21) Friday evening (November 19) before a record crowd of 1,112 at Memorial Gym. With the loss, Cavaliers are eliminated from the tournament and fall to 19-11. Duke improves to 20-9 on the season and advances to play Maryland in the semifinals at 4:00 p.m. Seventh-seeded Maryland moved into the semis with a 3-1 win over second-seeded Miami. In the other quarterfinal match, fifth-seeded North Carolina defeated fourth-seeded Florida State 3-0.
First-year outside hitter Sarah Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla./Plant) paced the Cavaliers with 13 kills, while fourth-year middle Alexis Geocaris (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) tallied 12 kills, including her 1,000th career kill. Geocaris became the ninth UVa player to notch 1,000 career kills when she smacked her fourth kill of the match during the first game. Second-year outside hitter Lindsay Osco (Houston, Texas/Elkins) also had 12 kills and added 13 digs for her 16th double-double of the season.
First-year libero Melissa Caldwell (Houston, Texas/Stratford) registered 18 digs to lead the Cavaliers in that category. Second-year setter Emily Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla./Plant) handed out 37 assists and added nine digs.
Stephanie Istvan recorded a match-high 28 digs in leading the Blue Devils to the victory. Carrie DeMange had 16 kills while hitting .407 and Tassy Rufai posted a double-double with 13 kills and 12 digs. Tealle Hunkus added 12 kills and 10 digs to go along with a match-high six service aces. Setter Ali Hausfeld was the third Duke player to notch a double-double with 43 assists and 10 digs.
The ACC Championship semifinals get under way Saturday (November 20) at 1:30 p.m. with Clemson taking on North Carolina. Duke and Maryland square off in the other semifinal at 4:00 p.m. The championship match is slated for 1:00 p.m. on Sunday (November 21).