Volleyball Edged by Virginia Tech, 3-2
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Box Score Nov. 28, 2015
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia volleyball team came back to send the match to a tie-breaking fifth set, but fell short against Virginia Tech, 3-2 (25-20, 24-26, 25-21, 23-25, 15-7) at Cassell Coliseum to close the regular season.
It was a battle at the net with both teams finishing with double figure blocks. Virginia (18-13, 10-10 ACC) finished with 13 blocks, but Virginia Tech (19-13, 10-10 ACC) had the advantage with 20. The Hokies also led with a .209 hitting percentage to .124 and six service aces to two. The Cavaliers led in digs, 72-61.
“We battled today,” head coach Dennis Hohenshelt said. “We certainly were not great tonight, but we fought and for that I am proud of this group. I am extremely proud of these seniors. I sat in the locker room with them four years ago with three ACC wins and promised them if they worked hard and committed to our program, things would be better. Today, even though we did not get the win, these seniors left our program better than when they arrived”
Junior Haley Kole (Tallahassee, Fla.) recorded a season-best 18 kills to lead UVA. Freshman Anna Walsh (Grapevine, Texas) had 15 kills and senior Natalie Bausback (Carlsbad, Calif.) added 12.
Bausback and Kole each recorded double-doubles with 15 and 12 digs, respectively. Junior Lexi Riccolo (Wheaton, Ill.) led the Cavalier back row with 21 digs, while Walsh and Bausback each picked up six blocks.
Virginia was down 12-7 in the first set when it put together a 6-2 run to cut the lead to one. The set remained close, until a 4-0 run gave Virginia Tech a 23-17 lead. The Hokies held on to win the first set 25-20.
The second set saw 18 ties and six lead changes. UVA took a 13-10 lead early in the set, but Virginia Tech came back to tie it up at 15-15. The Cavaliers tallied back-to-back points to go back ahead, and once again the Hokies tied the set. With the teams knotted at 24-24, a kill by Kole put Virginia in the lead and an error for Virginia Tech secured a 26-24 win to tie the match at 1-1.
Both teams continued to clash in the third set with 10 ties. Virginia Tech took it largest lead, 17-14, until Virginia tallied three-straight points to tie it at 17-17. However, The Hokies used another run to lead by three and went on to take the set, 25-21.
UVA scored the first three points in the must-win fourth set, but Virginia Tech would take a 13-8 lead. The Cavaliers regained control with a 7-0 run to go ahead 15-13. The teams traded points until back-to-back kills by Bausback and sophomore Alex Thorson (Spring, Texas) gave Virginia the 25-23 win.
Virginia Tech jumped out first in the fifth set with a 7-3 lead. UVA pulled within two, but couldn’t overcome the deficit as the Hokies won 15-7 to take the match.
“If every senior class can say that from here on out, we are going to build a great volleyball program,” Hohenshelt added. “I can’t thank Natalie (Bausback), Lauren (Fuller), Manon (Fuller) and Kayla (Sears) enough for all they have given to the UVA Volleyball program.”
Tonight’s game was sponsored by Virginia529, the official college savings plan of University of Virginia Athletics. Virginia Tech earned a half-point in the Virginia529 Commonwealth Clash with its win. The score for the Clash is now, Virginia – 3.5 and Virginia Tech – 1.5. Learn more about Virginia529 and this competition at TheCommmonwealthClash.com.