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Aug. 24, 2007
LAS VEGAS – The Virginia volleyball team opened the 2007 campaign Friday with a 3-1 win over Texas Tech in the Las Vegas Tournament. Fourth-year Sarah Kirkwood set the program record for career service aces after she produced seven against the Red Raiders.
Kirkwood replaced her sister Emily at the top of the list, needing just two aces heading into the match to tie Emily Kirwood’s 165 career aces.
After dropping the first game 30-28 to Texas Tech, the Cavaliers battled back to take the next three, 30-26, 30-22, 30-25. Virginia hit .340 compared to a .241 percentage from Texas Tech.
“Our first game was pretty shaky,” head coach Melissa Aldrich Shelton said. “There were some nerves out there, but we got going and turned it around. Marlow (Bruneau) came in to set in the second game and that really changed our attitude. She is a great leader for us and gave us more energy out there.”
Bruneau finished with 37 assists and hit .300 with four kills and two blocks. First-year Kelly Irvin made her first career start and finished with 23 assists.
Second-year Lauren Dickson led Virginia with 21 kills and fourth-year Melissa Caldwell tied a match-high with 15 digs.
The Cavaliers will play Arizona State at 1 p.m. (10 a.m. PT) Saturday before concluding the tournament with a match against host UNLV at 10 p.m. (7 p.m. PT).