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Volleyball Outlasts Arizona State in Five
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Aug. 25, 2007
LAS VEGAS – The Virginia volleyball team (2-0, 0-0 ACC) outlasted Arizona State Saturday, defeating the Sun Devils 3-2. It was the first of two matches the Cavaliers will play on the second and final day of the Las Vegas Tournament.
The win over Arizona State marked the first time in program history that Virginia has beaten a Pac-10 school. Previously, the Cavaliers were 0-4, having faced Arizona, Stanford, UCLA and Washington State.
Virginia claimed the first two games, defeating ASU 30-17 and 30-25. Unfortunately the Cavaliers were unable to put game three away, losing 31-29. The Devils then claimed game four, 30-24 to allow for a match-deciding fifth game.
The final game was neck-and-neck before Arizona State was able to go in front, 14-12. But Virginia got two quick points thanks to a Sun Devil service error and a service ace from Beth Shelton. ASU went ahead again, 15-14, but the Cavaliers took the next three points, the game and the match.
Virginia tallied a .237 hitting percentage to ASU’s .172. Arizona State, an NCAA Tournament participant last season, dropped to 0-2.
Shannon Davis had a solid afternoon with eight kills and a team-best eight blocks.
“Shannon had a great match,” head coach Melissa Aldrich Shelton said. “She came through at crunch time with great hitting and great blocking. She really led us up at the net. It was a great match.”
Lauren Dickson and Sarah Kirkwood led Virginia with 18 kills apiece. Four Cavaliers posted double-figure digs: Melissa Caldwell (16), Dickson (14), Kirkwood (12) and Marlow Bruneau (11). Bruneau also added six blocks and finished with 41 assists. Oakes also had seven blocks.
Virginia will battle UNLV at 10 p.m. Saturday (7 p.m. PT) for a chance to bring home the Las Vegas Tournament title.