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Sept. 2, 2005
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Virginia volleyball team cruised to a 3-0 (30-15, 30-20, 30-19) season-opening victory over Lehigh Friday (September 2) in the Texas A&M/McDonald’s Invitational at the G. Rollie White Coliseum. The Cavaliers hit an impressive .369 as a team in winning their season-opener for the fourth consecutive year and 11th time in the last 12 seasons.
Second-year middle Katie Oakes (Lorton, Va./Evangel Christian School) tallied an outstanding .667 hitting percentage with 10 kills in 15 attempts. She tied her career high in attack percentage with her mark of .667. Third-year outside hitter Lindsay Osco (Houston, Texas/Elkins) led all players with 11 kills while hitting .471. Second-year outside hitter Sarah Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla./Plant) nearly recorded a double-double as she posted nine kills and 10 digs. She also added three blocks, including one solo stop.
Third-year setter Emily Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla./Plant) dished out 31 assists and also registered four kills, three digs and two block assists. Second-year libero Melissa Caldwell (Houston, Texas/Stratford) led Virginia with 14 digs and three service aces, while first-year middle Shannon Davis (Austin, Texas/Westlake) tallied eight block assists and seven kills in her collegiate debut.
The Cavaliers totaled 47 kills with only nine errors while hitting .369. The Mountain Hawks hit -.009 in the match with 27 kills and 28 errors. UVa also held a 50-40 advantage in digs and an 11-1 edge in blocks.
UVa hit an impressive .405 with 18 kills and three errors in winning the first game 30-15. The Cavaliers hit .333 in winning the second game 30-20 and closed out the match by hitting .367 in winning game three 30-19.
Michelle Schwendenmann led Lehigh (0-5) with eight kills, while Kathleen Lafferty had 17 assists and seven digs. Cassidy Maumus had 18 digs to lead all players in that category.
Virginia concludes play in the Texas A&M/McDonald’s Invitational on Saturday (September 3) with a pair of matches. UVa plays 23rd-ranked St. Mary’s (Calif.) at 11:00 a.m. (ET) and 16th-ranked Texas A&M at 5:30 p.m.