Cavaliers Rebound to Knock Off UCSB

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Sept. 10, 2007

SAN DIEGO – The Virginia volleyball team (5-4, 0-0 ACC) rebounded after dropping its first two matches of the USD Invitational to knock off UC Santa Barbara late Saturday, 3-1. The Cavaliers won the first two games by the score of 30-22, but fell in the third game, 30-21. UVa would claim the match in the fourth game with a 30-28 victory.

Four Cavaliers reached double figure kills, led by Sarah Kirkwood’s 22. Katie Oakes finished with 14, while Kendahl Voelker and Shannon Davis posted 12 and 10 kills, respectively. Setters Kelly Irvin and Marlow Bruneau shared responsibilities, with Irvin posting 32 assists and Bruneau adding 27.

Defensively, Melissa Caldwell paced UVa with 22 digs. Kirkwood tallied 15 and Irvin added 11. Two Cavaliers, Tara Hester and A.J. Cushman, each had nine.

Virginia hit .286 for the match while the Gauchos posted a .224 percentage. UVa also recorded nine blocks compared to four for UCSB.

UC Santa Barbara also had four players reach double figure kills, led by Lauren McLaughlin, who finished with 18. The Gauchos dropped to 2-7 on the year after the loss.

Virginia opens Atlantic Coast Conference action at home Friday against Virginia Tech. Match time is set for 7 p.m. in Memorial Gymnasium.