Virginia Takes Down Wake Forest, 3-1, for First ACC Win
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Oct. 20, 2012
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.—Virginia volleyball freshmen Natalie Bausback and Kayla Sears combined for 41 kills as the Cavaliers defeated Wake Forest, 25-21, 27-25, 17-25, 25-23, for their first Atlantic Coast Conference victory of the season Saturday night (Oct. 20) at Memorial Gymnasium.
UVa (7-15, 1-10 ACC) outhit the Demon Deacons, .272 to .173 and led in blocks, 16-5. Bausback (Carlsbad, Calif.) had season-highs in both kills, 22, and blocks, seven, while Sears (Moorpark, Calif.) hit .515 with 19 kills.
“We knew it was coming and probably should have happened sooner,” head coach Dennis Hohenshelt said. “We’re learning how to win and play better and when we hit .272 and block 16 balls, it’s a good night for us. I’ve been telling the team that the wins are there and this was proof that they are there and more are coming.”
Fellow freshman Vivian Burcescu (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) and sophomore Morgan Blair (Long Valley, N.J.) each had seven blocks, while sophomore Tori Janowski (Sterling, Va.) added six.
“They are turning into what we thought they would be, but they’re freshmen so it takes awhile to get there,” Hohenshelt said. “I’m excited for them because they’re starting to feel it and see the results of all the work they are putting in, not only on the court, but in the weight room and everywhere else.”
In the first set, Virginia led the Demon Deacons in blocks, 7-0, and held Wake Forest to a .000 hitting percentage on the way to a 25-21 win. Bausback led the Cavaliers with seven kills and five blocks in the frame.
Down 23-21, Virginia tied the 2nd set with two kills by Sears. After fighting off two Wake Forest set points, Janowski hit a kill off of an overpass to win the set for the Cavaliers, 27-25.
In the third, Wake Forest hit .370 with 13 kills and only three errors on the way to a 25-17 victory.
The Cavaliers converted 75 percent of their sideout opportunities and never trailed in the fourth. The Demon Deacons went on a 4-0 run late in the frame to tie at 23, but UVa won the last two points to win and clinch the match, 25-23.
Up next, the Cavaliers travel south for two ACC matchups against Florida State on Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. and Miami on Oct. 28 at 1 p.m.