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Virginia Volleyball Takes Jefferson Cup Title With 3-1 Victory Over East Carolina
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Sept. 2, 2006
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Fourth-year setter Emily Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla.) was named the Most Valuable Player of the Jefferson Cup Volleyball Tournament after leading the Virginia volleyball team to the tourney title Saturday evening (Sept. 1) at Memorial Gym. The Cavaliers capped off the tournament by posting a 3-1 (30-19, 27-30, 30-22, 30-24) win over East Carolina to finish with a perfect 3-0 record. With the victory, UVa improves to 5-1 on the season, while East Carolina (3-3) finished second in the tournament with a 2-1 mark. Georgetown defeated Wright State 3-1 (30-22, 27-30, 30-17, 30-27) in the other evening match to finish third in the tourney.
In addition to Emily Kirkwood earning tournament MVP honors, Virginia fourth-year outside hitter Lindsay Osco (Houston, Texas) and third-year middle Katie Oakes (Lorton, Va.) were named to the all-tournament team. East Carolina’s Heidi Krug and Jaime Bevan, along with Tara Geegan of Wright State and Georgetown’s Katherine Niesen rounded out the all-tourney team selections.
Emily Kirkwood registered a double-double with 57 assists and 11 digs to lead UVa to the win over East Carolina. She also had four kills and two service aces. Third-year outside hitter Sarah Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla.) tallied a match-best 22.5 points and was one of five Cavaliers in double figures in kills. She recorded a double-double with a match-high 17 kills and added 10 digs and two service aces. Oakes had 16 kills, a career-best three service aces and seven blocks. Osco drilled 11 kills, led all players with four service aces, and also tallied three blocks, three digs and two assists.
Second-year middle Shannon Davis (Austin, Texas) and first-year outside hitter Lauren Dickson (Austin, Texas) rounded out UVa’s five players in double figures in kills with 13 and 11 respectively. Davis hit .346 in the match and also recorded two blocks, while Dickson added four assists and four blocks. Third-year libero Melissa Caldwell (Houston, Texas) led all players with 22 digs and also recorded two aces and two assists.
Mignon Dubenion led East Carolina with 13 kills, while Kelley Wernert had 12. Krug posted a double-double with 45 assists and 20 digs, while Trish Monroe also registered 20 defensive saves.
UVa hit .287 in the match with 74 kills, while the Pirates hit .248 with 51 kills. The Cavaliers had 15 service aces in the contest while East Carolina had five. UVa’s 15 aces ties for the third most in a match in school history. Virginia held a 9-8 edge in digs, while East Carolina led 69-58 in digs.
The Cavaliers return to action Sept. 8-9 when they compete in the Michigan/Pepsi Challenge. UVa opens the tournament with a 1:00 p.m. match Friday against Pacific. Virginia plays host Michigan at 7:30 p.m. Friday.