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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia volleyball team looks to rebound from a tough opening week of conference action at Boston College and Maryland this weekend. After dropping their first three matches to the top teams in the league last week, falling 0-3 at Virginia Tech, 1-3 to Georgia Tech and in five sets to Clemson, the Cavaliers will head north to turn things around this week.
Virginia (8-7, 0-3 ACC) will play at Boston College on Friday and Maryland on Saturday. Both matches are slated for 7 p.m., with Saturday’s match being broadcast on ACC Select.
Virginia is currently led by preseason All-ACC honorees fourth-year Shannon Davis (Austin, Texas) and third-year Lauren Dickson (Austin, Texas). Davis leads the team with a .327 attack percentage on 115 kills, while Dickson has landed a team-high 178 kills.
Fourth-year Marlow Bruneau (Lakeville, Minn.) and second-year Kelly Irvin (Pacific Palisades, Calif.) share setting duties, with Bruneau dishing out 377 assists and Irvin distributing 130.
Third-year Brittani Rendina leads the team with 193 digs and has landed 19 service aces. Second-year Sydney Hill has blocked 58 attacks.
Boston College (6-9, 0-3 ACC) is coming off a 0-3 week in which it dropped four-set matches to Maryland and NC State, prior to being swept at North Carolina. The Eagles are led by Jordan Meredith’s 184 kills, while Dani Moskitis and Brittany Pierpont pace the attack with 293 and 203 assists, respectively. Defensively, Brennan Clark has dug 219 attacks and Melanie Cimino has blocked 28.
Maryland (5-10, 1-3 ACC) is coming off a 1-2 week and brings the lone ACC win into the weekend among the competition. The Terrapins defeated Boston College at home, 3-1, before falling at UNC and NC State. Katie Usher leads the attack with 142 kills, a .269 attack percentage, 12 aces and 51 blocks. Hayley Hanson has dished out 288 assists, while Sharon Strizak has 163 helpers. Bethany Springer leads the defense with 200 digs.
In the all-time series with the two schools, Virginia leads Boston College 6-1, while trailing Maryland, 16-33. Dating back to 1980, the Cavaliers and Terrapins have met 49 times, including at least once in every year since 1982. The Cavaliers are currently on a four-match win streak against Maryland.
The Cavaliers won the first six meetings with the Eagles, dropping the most recent contest in five sets, 12-15, last season in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Following the weekend, the Cavaliers will remain on the road, heading to North Carolina to face UNC on Friday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. and NC State on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 6 p.m.