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Sept. 23, 2005
RALEIGH, N.C. – The University of Virginia volleyball team continued its dominance over NC State with a 3-0 (30-23, 30-18, 30-22) victory Friday evening (September 23) at Reynolds Coliseum in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams. The victory marks the 20th consecutive time the Cavaliers have defeated NC State. With the win, UVa improves to 6-4 overall and 1-0 in the ACC, while the Wolfpack fall to 6-3 overall and 0-1 in the league.
Second-year outside hitter Sarah Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla./Plant) tallied a match-high 15 kills in the victory. Kirkwood also added five digs and three blocks. Second-year outside hitter Beth Shelton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursula Academy) recorded her second career double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs. She also served up a match-high three aces and added two assists and two blocks. Third-year outside hitter Emily Perilli (Thompson’s Station, Tenn./Page) was asked to play a key role in the front row for the Cavaliers due to injuries and she turned in an outstanding performance. Perilli hit .353 and notched a season-high nine kills and three blocks, and also added eight digs, two assists and an ace. Third-year outside hitter Lindsay Osco (Houston, Texas/Elkins) hit .350 while recording nine kills. She also had six digs and an ace.
Third-year setter Emily Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla./Plant) registered her second double-double of the season with 37 assists and 11 digs. Kirkwood posted three kills and two aces as well. Second-year libero Melissa Caldwell (Houston, Texas/Stratford) led UVa’s defensive effort with a match-best 16 digs.
“Mo (Emily Perilli) stepped up and played great in a very different role for us tonight,” said head coach Melissa Aldrich Shelton. “Our serving and passing game was on tonight and it really took NC State out of their game.”
Adeola Kosoko led the Wolfpack with seven kills, five blocks and five digs. Ashley Wallace also had seven kills, while setter Melissa Rabe registered a double-double with 24 assists and 12 digs.
The Cavaliers hit .294 in both the first and second games in recording 30-23 and 30-18 victories. UVa had 20 kills in the first game and 16 in the second. Virginia closed out the win by hitting .238 with 18 kills in a 30-22 victory in the third game. NC State’s .159 hitting percentage in the first game was its highest of the match.
UVa held a decided 54-29 edge in kills while also out-hitting the Wolfpack .276 to .106. Virginia also held a 56-46 advantage in digs as well a 7-2 edge in service aces. The Wolfpack won the blocking battle 9.0-4.5.
Virginia returns to action on Saturday (September 24) when it travels to Chapel Hill to take on North Carolina at 6:00 p.m.