Virginia Opens ACC Play with 3-1 Win over Clemson
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Box Score Sept. 26, 2014
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.-The Virginia volleyball opened the 2014 ACC schedule with a 25-23, 25-19, 19-25, 25-22 win over Clemson Friday night at Memorial Gymnasium. With the win, the Cavaliers improved to 8-6 (1-0 ACC) on the season, while the Tigers fell to 11-3 (0-1 ACC).
“This was as good as we have played in a few weeks,” head coach Dennis Hohenshelt said. “We started getting some momentum in set one and that carried over into set two. I thought we just could not find a good rhythm in the third set, but in the fourth set we had a great stretch where we served tough, passed well and were able to pull away from them. I am pleased with the step (forward) we took tonight and we are looking forward to playing tomorrow.”
With 15 kills tonight, senior Tori Janowski (Sterling, Va.) became the 16th Cavalier to earn 1,000 career kills. She now has 1,004, which ranks 15th on UVa’s all-time list. Janowski added 11 digs and three service aces, including two late in the fourth set.
Junior Kayla Sears (Moorpark, Calif.) led all hitters with 21 kills, while sophomore Lexi Riccolo (Wheaton, Ill.) had a match-high 15 digs and senior Morgan Blair (Long Valley, N.J.) led the team with five blocks. Junior Lauren Fuller (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) dished out 58 assists for the Cavaliers.
In the first set, both teams hit well, with the Cavaliers hitting a .412 clip compared to the Tigers’ .393. Clemson fought off one set point before a Sears kill clinched the set for UVa, 25-23.
The Cavaliers held Clemson to .097 hitting in the second set on its way to a 25-19 win, but the Tigers came back to hit .387 in a 25-19 third-set win.
In the fourth set, Clemson had a 17-13 lead, but a 9-1 run propelled the Cavaliers to the lead and a 25-22 win.
Leah Perri led Clemson with 12 kills.
The Cavaliers return to action Saturday (Sept. 27) for an ACC matchup against Wake Forest. Start time at Memorial Gymnasium is set for 7 p.m. and fans who attend Saturday’s UVa football game against Kent State can bring their ticket stubs and receive free admission to Saturday’s volleyball match against Wake Forest (based on availability).