/
.
UVa Volleyball Continues Homestand
Story Links
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia volleyball team (6-4, 1-0 ACC) continues its three-match homestand this week. The Cavaliers play host to Florida State at 7 p.m. Thursday before taking on Miami at 7 p.m. Friday in Memorial Gymnasium. Both matches can be seen live on ACC Select at www.accselect.com.
SERIES INFORMATION
Against Florida State: Florida State leads, 12-24
Last Meeting: Nov. 10, 2006 in Tallahassee, Fla.
Result: Virginia, 3-2 (30-28, 30-22, 23-30, 24-30, 16-14)
Also in 2006: the Seminoles swept UVa 3-0 in the first meeting in Charlottesville
Against Miami: Virginia leads, 4-2
Last Meeting: Nov. 11, 2007 in Coral Gables, Fla.
Result: Virginia, 3-1 (26-30, 30-24, 30-20, 30-26)
Also in 2006: The Cavaliers also won the first meeting at Mem Gym, 3-0
LAST TIME OUT
Virginia started Atlantic Coast Conference play on a good note, sweeping Virginia Tech 3-0 last Friday (Sept. 14) at home. UVa squeaked past the Hokies 30-28, 32-30 and 30-25. Sarah Kirkwood and Lauren Dickson led the Hoos with 14 and 11 kills, respectively. Shannon Davis also pitched in eight kills and five blocks. Melissa Caldwell finished with 17 digs, while Dickson posted 14 and Kirkwood had 11. Setters Kelly Irvin and Marlow Bruneau shared duties, finishing with 19 and 18 assists, respectively.
RECORD BREAKER
Fourth year and team tri-captain Sarah Kirkwood has set three program records this season. She set career record for service aces in UVa’s season-opener against Texas Tech (Aug. 24), blasting seven aces in that match to surpass her sister Emily (167 career aces) as the program’s all-time leader. She currently has 187 career aces.
In Virginia’s match against Oklahoma (Sept. 7), Kirkwood set the school record for career kills. Needing just eight kills to take over the top spot on the list, Kirkwood posted a match-high 15 kills against the Sooners to replace former Cavalier Deanna Zwarich as the career leader. Kirkwood has tallied 1,588 kills in her career.
Her third program record came in the ACC opener against Virginia Tech (Sept. 14), this time for attack attempts. Kirkwood needed 18 more attempts to break Paige Davis’ record of 4,018 career attack attempts. Davis was one of the program’s first All-Americans and is the older sister of Kirkwood’s teammate, Shannon Davis. Kirkwood now has 4,037 career attack attempts.
CALDWELL, OAKES ALSO AT THE TOP
Fourth years Melissa Caldwell and Katie Oakes join Kirkwood near the top of career lists. Caldwell, the squad’s returning libero, currently holds the top spot for digs per game. Oakes, meanwhile, is second in blocks per game and ranks among the top 10 in block assists and kills per game.
CLOSING IN
Caldwell also has a shot at breaking the program record for career digs, needing 294 more to claim the top spot. The Houston native needs 11 more digs to give her sole possession of second place.
HOOS AMONG ACC LEADERS
Four Cavaliers rank among the top 10 in the latest statistical reports from the ACC. Sarah Kirkwood is second among league players in kills, averaging 4.69 per game. That mark trails Duke’s Carrie DeMange, who puts up five kpg. Additionally, Kirkwood ranks fifth in service aces.
Melissa Caldwell is seventh among the ACC dig leaders with 4.00 dpg. Teammate Katie Oakes is eighth with 1.22 blocks per game and Marlow Bruneau is tied for ninth with 8.50 assists per game.
A GLANCE AT FLORIDA STATE
Florida State is 4-5 overall and 1-0 in ACC action heading into competition this weekend. Most recently, the Seminoles defeated Miami in the conference opener at home last Saturday 3-0. Outside hitter Mira Djuric was selected as the ACC player of the week Tuesday (9/18), for her efforts against the Canes. Djuric posted a .391 hitting percentage in the match and had 13 kills. She also added five assists, five digs and five service aces.
Djuric ranks ninth in the ACC with 3.44 kills per game. She also ranks third in service aces, with 24 on the season. Meanwhile, Brianna Barry is fifth among league players with a .359 hitting percentage.
A GLANCE AT MIAMI
Miami is 6- overall and 0-1 in ACC play after dropping the conference opener to Florida State 3-0 last weekend in Tallahassee.
Among league leaders, Miami’s Ciara Michel is sixth in blocks with 1.29 bpg. The Hurricanes also hold the top two spots in service aces with Katie Gallagher leading the way (33 on the year) and Cassie Loessberg (with 29 this season). Loessberg also ranks second with 5.61 digs per game.
PRESEASON PICKS
Virginia was picked to finish third in the ACC preseason poll released Aug. 8. Additionally, fourth-years Sarah Kirkwood and Katie Oakes were named to the 18-member preseason All-ACC team. Defending conference champion Duke was picked to finish first.
UP NEXT
Virginia hits the road for its first league match away from Charlottesville next weekend. The Hoos will play at Georgia Tech at 7 p.m. Friday before taking on Clemson in an ACC Select matchup at 6 p.m. Saturday.