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Sept. 3, 2005
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Virginia volleyball team played 16th-ranked Texas A&M tough, but fell to the Aggies 3-0 (30-22, 35-33, 31-29) in the final match of the Texas A&M/McDonald’s Invitational Saturday evening (September 3) at the G. Rollie White Coliseum. UVa closes the season-opening tournament in third place with a 1-2. Texas A&M won the tourney with a 3-0 mark and improves to 5-0 on the season. St. Mary’s (Calif.) was second and Lehigh finished fourth. The Cavaliers fell to St. Mary’s (Calif.) 3-1 earlier in the day Saturday.
Second-year outside hitters Beth Shelton (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula Academy) and Sarah Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla./Plant) were both named to the All-Tournament Team.
In the loss to Texas A&M, first-year middle Shannon Davis (Austin, Texas/Westlake) led UVa with 12 kills while hitting .409, and she also added three blocks. Sarah Kirkwood tallied 11 kills, six digs and four block assists. Shelton contributed eight kills, seven digs and two block assists. Third-year setter Emily Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla./Plant) handed out 37 assists and added six digs. Second-year libero Melissa Caldwell (Houston, Texas/Stratford) paced UVa in digs with 16. Second-year middle Katie Oakes (Lorton, Va./Evangel Christian School) led all players with five blocks, including two solo, and also contributed five kills to the Cavalier offense.
Tournament MVP Laura Jones registered a double-double with 22 kills and 15 digs to lead Texas A&M. Christi Hahn posted 11 kills, while Holly Clay tallied 22 digs. Setter Meghan Kainz dished out 38 assists and added four blocks, including two solo stops.
The Aggies hit .223 in the match with 60 kills, while UVa posted a .173 hitting percentage with 43 kills. Texas A&M held a 67-58 advantage in digs, while both teams recorded eight blocks.
The Cavaliers return to action September 9-10 when they travel to Dayton, Ohio, to compete in the Marriott Flyer Invitational. UVa opens the tourney against Dayton on Friday (September 9) at 7:00 p.m.