Story Links
Nov. 23, 2006
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia volleyball team wraps up the regular season this weekend with matches at Clemson and Georgia Tech. The Cavaliers take on Clemson on Friday (Nov. 24) at 6:00 p.m. and then finish the regular season with a 7:30 p.m. contest at Georgia Tech on Saturday (Nov. 25).
Virginia enters the weekend with a 22-7 overall record and stands in second place in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 15-5 mark. The Cavaliers have tied the school record with their 15 conference wins. UVa’s 22 victories overall are the most since UVa won 25 matches in 2003. Virginia is coming off a 3-1 (30-18, 25-30, 30-22, 30-19) win over Wake Forest (Nov. 17).
“This last weekend of conference play is all about who wants it more,” said head coach Melissa Aldrich Shelton. “Clemson will be fighting for their share of second in the conference standings and Georgia Tech has by far been the hottest team in the second half of ACC play. Both teams have strong, diverse, well run offenses which will challenge our defense to play its very best.”
Clemson is 19-10 overall and is in third place in the ACC with a 14-7 record. The Tigers are coming off a 3-2 (30-16, 30-19, 28-30, 23-30, 15-11) victory over Virginia Tech Wednesday (Nov. 22). The Cavaliers won the first meeting against Clemson this season 3-1 (26-30, 30-22, 30-26, 334-32) on Oct. 20 in Charlottesville. The Tigers lead the all-time series 30-13, but Virginia has won the last four meetings.
Georgia Tech enters the week riding a nine-match winning streak. The Yellow Jackets, who play Virginia Tech Friday evening (Nov. 24), are 20-10 overall and 12-8 in the ACC. Georgia Tech defeated Maryland 3-2 (30-21, 26-30, 30-15, 26-30, 15-8) on Nov. 18 in its last outing. The Cavaliers won the initial match-up with Georgia Tech this season 3-2 (30-22, 24-30, 30-22, 27-30, 15-12) on Oct. 21 in Charlottesville. The victory snapped UVa’s 11-match losing streak to the Yellow Jackets. Georgia Tech holds a 24-15 lead in the all-time series.
“Going in to our matches we are assured a piece of second in the ACC but not an NCAA bid,” said Shelton. “We believe our regular season needs to end with two big road wins to make us look as good as possible in the committee’s eyes. We need to show everyone that we want an at-large bid and deserve to get one.”
The Cavaliers have three players ranked in the NCAA Division I statistics. Third-year middle Katie Oakes (Lorton, Va.) is seventh in blocks with an average of 1.67 per game (159 blocks in 95 games). Third-year outside hitter Sarah Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla.) is eighth in aces per game at 0.67 (55 aces in 82 games), while fourth-year setter Emily Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla.) is 28th in assists per game with a mark of 13.06 (1,267 assists in 97 games). As a team, UVa is sixth in the nation in service aces with 2.41 per game (251 aces in 104 games).