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Sept. 26, 2006

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Fourth-year outside hitter Lindsay Osco (Houston, Texas) and first-year outside hitter Lauren Dickson (Austin, Texas) both slammed 21 kills to lead the Virginia volleyball team to a 3-1 (30-18, 29-31, 30-21, 30-24) victory over Virginia Tech Tuesday (Sept. 26) before 475 spectators at Memorial Gym. With the victory, UVa evened the Commonwealth Challenge series, which is presented by Comcast, at .5-.5. The Cavaliers earned a split in the season series with Virginia Tech and also gained control of the traveling plaque for volleyball until next season. Virginia now stands at 10-3 overall and 3-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. UVa snapped Virginia Tech’s six-match winning streak as the Hokies fall to 9-4 overall and 3-1 in the ACC.

In addition to the 21 kills, Osco recorded a team-high 14 digs to surpass the 1,000-dig mark. In the process, she became just the fifth UVa volleyball player to amass 1,000 career kills and digs. The 21 kills are just one shy of Osco’s career high. She also led all players with four service aces. Dickson smashed her previous career high of 16 kills with her 21 terminators. Dickson also tallied 13 digs to join Osco in the double-double category.

Third-year middle Katie Oakes (Lorton, Va.) posted 14 kills, a .345 hitting percentage, and a match-high nine blocks, including three solo stuffs. Second-year middle Shannon Davis (Austin, Texas) rounded UVa’s players in double digits in kills with 10. She also added three blocks. Fourth-year setter Emily Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla.) handed out a match-best 60 assists for an average of 15.0 per game. She also posted eight digs, four blocks, two kills and an ace. Fourth-year outside hitter Emily Perilli (Thompson’s Station. Tenn.) and third-year libero Melissa Caldwell (Houston, Texas) recorded 12 digs apiece.

Taylor Parrish led Virginia Tech with 17 kills, while Jen Albrecht added 15. Katie Esbrook hit a match-high .471 with 10 kills and eight blocks. Michelle Lang dished out 48 assists and added five kills, seven digs, three blocks and two service aces for the Hokies.

Virginia hit .229 in the match with 70 kills, while the Hokies hit .218 with 61 kills. Virginia outscored NCSU 93-79. The Cavaliers held a 10-4 edge in service aces and a 68-64 advantage in digs, while Virginia Tech led 14-13 in team blocks.

The Cavaliers won the first game 30-28 as Osco Dickson and Oakes each tallied five kills. Osco also notched three of her four service aces in the first game. The Hokies evened the match at 1-1 with a 31-29 win in game two. Dickson led UVa with six kills, while Osco and Oakes both had five, but Virginia Tech’s .390 hitting percentage proved to be the difference. The Cavaliers trailed only once while winning game three 30-21. UVa had six team blocks and held the Hokies to a .103 hitting percentage. Dickson again paced UVa’s offense with six kills while Osco added five in game three. The Cavaliers sealed the victory with a 30-24 win in game four. UVa tied the fourth game at 8-8 on a kill by Dickson and an Osco kill gave Virginia the lead for good, 9-8.

The next Commonwealth Challenge matchup is scheduled for Oct. 12 when UVa takes on Virginia Tech in women’s soccer at 6:00 p.m. in Charlottesville.

Virginia returns to action on Thursday (Sept. 28) when it travels to Chestnut Hill, Mass., for a 7:00 p.m. match against Boston College.

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