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Sept. 3, 2005
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Virginia volleyball team won the first game, but 23rd-ranked St. Mary’s (Calif.) rallied to win the next three games for a 3-1 (26-30, 30-13, 30-16, 30-15) victory over the Cavaliers Saturday (September 3) in the Texas A&M/McDonald’s Invitational at the G. Rollie White Coliseum. UVa closes out the tournament with a 5:30 p.m. match against 16th-ranked Texas A&M. With the loss, the Cavaliers fall to 1-1 on the season, while St. Mary’s improves to 5-1.
After hitting .369 as a team in its season-opening win over Lehigh Friday night, Virginia managed to hit only.035 with 45 kills and 38 errors in the loss to St. Mary’s. St. Mary’s hit .286 in the contest with 67 kills and just 14 attack errors.
Second-year outside hitter Beth Shelton (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula Academy) tallied 16 kills and 17 digs in only her second collegiate match. Second-year outside hitter Sarah Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla./Plant) was the only other Cavalier to reach double figures in kills with 13. She also had two of UVa’s four service aces. First-year middle Shannon Davis (Austin, Texas/Westlake) tallied seven kills, six blocks (two solo) and three digs.
Virginia had five players reach double digits in digs including Shelton. Second-year outside hitter Emily Perilli (Thompson’s Station, Tenn./Page) led UVa with 20 digs, while second-year libero Melissa Caldwell (Houston, Texas/Stratford) and fourth-year outside hitter Kristin Chaney (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) both had 18. Third-year setter Emily Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla./Plant) registered a double-double with 40 assists and 11 digs.
Kaui Salzman led St. Mary’s with 26 kills (.351 hitting percentage), 16 digs and eight blocks. Missie Stidham totaled 17 kills, 30 digs and four blocks, while Christina Kirk had 10 kills and 14 blocks. Setter Mandy Bible also recorded a double-double with 56 assists and 15 digs. Cassandra Kolkka and Lyndsey Parker both added 15 digs.
St. Mary’s held a 20.5-9 advantage in blocks as well as a slight 100-96 edge in digs.