Sarah Kirkwood Leads UVa Volleyball To 3-0 Win Over Appalachian State
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Sept. 16, 2005
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Second-year outside hitter Sarah Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla./Plant) notched a school-record nine service aces in leading the Virginia volleyball team to a 3-0 (30-24, 30-15, 30-11) victory over Appalachian State Friday (September 16) in the Fairfield Inn Jefferson Cup Volleyball Tournament in Memorial Gym. In the first match of the tournament, Albany registered a 3-0 (30-20, 30-14, 30-22) win over Liberty.
The former school mark for service aces in a match was seven by three players. Kirkwood more than doubled her previous career high of four service aces with her nine-ace barrage. In addition, the Cavaliers tallied 14 service aces as a team, the fourth-best single match mark in school history. The record is 16 service aces against Missouri on September 16, 1995 ¬ exactly 10 years ago.
In addition to the nine aces, Kirkwood paced all players with 13 kills while hitting .385. She also added three digs and two block assists. Second-year Beth Shelton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursula Academy) posted 11 kills with an impressive .474 hitting percentage, while third-year outside hitter Lindsay Osco (Houston, Texas/Elkins) had 10 kills and a .438 hitting percentage. Shelton added seven digs, two aces and two blocks, while Osco also had two blocks.
Third-year setter Emily Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla./Plant) recorded a match-high 33 assists and also had a pair of service aces. First-year middle Shannon Davis (Austin, Texas/Westlake) hit .600 with seven kills and two blocks, while second-year middle Katie Oakes (Lorton, Va./Evangel Christian School) led all players with four blocks. Second-year libero Melissa Caldwell (Houston, Texas/Stratford) tallied a match-high 10 digs.
Dianna Thomas and Brittany Zahn led Appalachian State (6-4) with seven kills apiece. Setter Lorelle Rau handed out 21 assists, while Kali Rumberger registered nine digs.
The Cavaliers (4-3) hit .290 in winning the first game 30-24. UVa hit well above .400 in the final two games for the 3-0 victory. In game two, Virginia tallied a .429 hitting percentage while holding the Mountaineers to .036 in a 30-15 win. The Cavaliers hit at a .452 clip in recording a 30-11 victory in the third game.
In the match, UVa hit .389 as a team with 48 kills and 13 errors in 90 attempts. Appalachian State managed to hit only .095 with 27 kills and 19 errors in 84 attempts. The Cavaliers held a 14-2 edge in aces and 33-23 advantage in digs and also won the blocking battle 6-2.
The Fairfield Inn Jefferson Cup concludes Saturday (September 17) with four matches. At 11:00 a.m., Albany plays Appalachian State and at 1:00 p.m., UVa takes on Liberty. In the evening session, Liberty plays Appalachian State at 5:00 p.m. and at 7:00 p.m., Virginia hosts Albany.