Virginia Defense Stymies NC State, 3-1

Story Links

RALEIGH, N.C.-Sophomore Mallory Woolridge (Glen Allen, Va.) stuffed a career-high 10 blocks as the Virginia volleyball team defeated NC State, 22-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-20, Saturday evening at Reynolds Coliseum.

With the win, UVa improved to 8-11 overall and 2-7 in ACC play. The Wolfpack fell to 14-8 and 2-7 in conference action.

The Cavaliers’ defense made the difference, holding the Wolfpack to a .127 hitting percentage for the match, while earning a season-high 16 team blocks.

Junior Jessica O’Shoney (Austin, Texas) hit .647 with 11 kills and no errors, while senior Simone Asque (Chicago, Ill.) earned a season-high 23 kills with a .364 hitting percentage.

Down 23-19 in the first set, Asque followed a Wolfpack attack error with two kills to cut the lead to one, 23-22, but Dariyan Hopper earned a kill and Megan Cyr followed with an ace to win the game for NC State, 25-23.

In the second, the ‘Hoos took advantage of three Wolfpack attack errors to jump out to a 5-1 lead and never looked back, winning 25-18. Virginia outhit NC State, .281-.000, with Asque leading all hitters with eight kills in the frame.

Woolridge had at least a share of four blocks in a row as the Cavaliers started the third set on a 7-1 run. The closest NC State came was at 18-15, but Woolridge answered with a kill and UVa went on to a 25-19 triumph.

With the score tied at 18 in the fourth, UVa secured the match with a 7-2 run that concluded with a Woolridge kill.

Hopper led NC State with 14 kills.

Next weekend, the Cavaliers host Clemson (Oct. 21) and Georgia Tech (Oct. 22) at Memorial Gymnasium.