Virginia Volleyball Knocks Off North Carolina 3-1
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Sept. 22, 2006
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Third-year middle Katie Oakes (Lorton, Va.) slammed a career-high 20 kills while posting a .486 hitting percentage to lead the Virginia volleyball team to a 3-1 (37-35, 30-19, 25-30, 30-14) victory over North Carolina Friday evening (Sept. 22) before 545 spectators at Memorial Gym. The Cavaliers tied the school record with 36 block assists in the match and also posted an impressive .318 team hitting percentage. With the victory, UVa snaps a three-match losing streak to the Tar Heels and improves to 8-3 overall and 1-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. UNC drops to 3-9 overall and 1-1 in the conference.
In addition to setting a career high in kills with 20, Oakes also established a career best with 24 total points. Her previous best for points was 22.5 vs. East Carolina earlier this season and her former career high in kills was 18 against Clemson last season. Oakes helped UVa tie the school mark for block assists in a match by recording eight blocks. Second-year middle Shannon Davis (Austin, Texas) led all players with a career-best 10 blocks and she also added 13 kills for her first career double-double. Third-year Stephanie Everett (Cincinnati, Ohio) notched season-highs of eight blocks and five kills.
First-year outside hitter Lauren Dickson (Austin, Texas) recorded her first career double-double while establishing career highs with 15 kills and 16 digs. Fourth-year outside hitter Lindsay Osco (Houston, Texas) rounded out UVa’s players in double digits in kills with 14. She also contributed eight digs, three blocks and two service aces. Fourth-year setter Emily Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla.) was the third Cavalier to register a double-double as she accumulated 57 assists and 14 digs. She also had a hand in UVa’s block barrage with four. Second-year libero Beth Shelton (Cincinnati, Ohio) led all players with 23 digs, while third-year libero Melissa Caldwell (Houston, Texas) and fourth-year outside hitter Emily Perilli (Thompson’s Station. Tenn.) were the fourth and fifth Cavaliers in double figures in kills with 11 and 10, respectively.
Megan Owens led North Carolina with 16 kills and 21 digs, while Amy Beaver was the only other Tar Heel to tally double figures in kills as she had 14. Setter Stephanie Jansma handed out 50 assists, while Brianna Eskola had 19 digs.
UVa posted a .312 hitting percentage in the match with 69 kills and just 13 attack errors, while the Tar Heels hit .122 with 60 kills and 36 errors. Virginia won the team blocking battle 18-6 and also held an 85-80 advantage in digs. North Carolina led in service aces 7-5.
The Cavaliers won a marathon game one 37-35. It marked the highest scoring game ever for UVa. There were 15 ties and six lead changes in the first frame and Virginia staved off four match points to earn the victory. Osco recorded the final two kills to seal the win, while Davis and Oakes both had six kills in the opening frame. UVa hit .295 in winning the second game 30-19. Osco and Oakes both had five kills in game two. UNC took the third game 30-25. Both teams hit .300 in the game, but UNC had 20 kills to UVa’s 15. The Cavaliers cruised to a 30-14 win in the fourth game to clinch the match. Caldwell served five consecutive points to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 6-2 lead, a lead UVa never relinquished. Virginia hit an impressive .536 (16 kills and one error) in the fourth game and also notched seven team blocks.
Virginia continues its three-match homestand on Saturday (Sept. 23) with a 5:00 p.m. match against NC State.