Virginia Edged by College of Charleston 3-2
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Box Score Sept. 17, 2016
WACO, Texas – The Virginia volleyball team fell in a close five-set match to College of Charleston, 3-2 (19-25, 22-25, 25-22, 29-27, 15-8), to close the Baylor Classic on Saturday night at the Ferrell Center.
“We played harder today than we did yesterday,” head coach Dennis Hohenshelt said. “Washington State was a big, physical team and they controlled the net against us but we fought and grinded. Tonight was the story of missed opportunities. We had Charleston on the ropes so many times and let them off the hook.”
Virginia (3-9) started the match strong, winning the first two sets, but College of Charleston (7-5) was able to win the fourth set in extra points to send it to a tie-breaking fifth and secure the match.
The Cavaliers had a season-high 17.0 blocks to hold the Cougars to a .185 hitting percentage. UVA finished with a .190 attack percentage and led in service aces 6-2.
Two players recorded double-figure kills for UVA. Senior Haley Kole (Tallahassee, Fla.) matched her season-high with 18 kills, had 11 digs and added six blocks. Fellow senior Jasmine Burton (West Hills, Calif.) recorded 10 kills and added two service aces.
Freshman Jennifer Wineholt (San Diego, Calif.) dished out 48 assists and had 13 digs for her first career double-double.
Freshman Chino Anukwuem (East Hanover, N.J.) just missed a double-double with a career-high 10 blocks to lead the Cavaliers at the net and had nine kills on a team-best .375 clip. Senior Lexi Riccolo (Wheaton, Ill.) recorded a career-high 29 digs to lead the back line.
Virginia got off to a quick start, opening up a 6-1 lead in the first set. College of Charleston cut it to 9-7, but the Cavaliers scored eight-straight to take its largest lead of the set 17-7 and remained in control to win the set 25-19. UVA used six blocks to halt CofC in the opening set, four of those coming in the first 13 points.
The Cavaliers fell behind early in the second set, but fought back to tie it up at 5-5. The Cougars went back in front, but UVA stayed close and eventually used a 3-0 run that was capped off by an ace from Burton to take a 14-11 advantage. CofC tied the set at 15-15, and then a 5-2 run gave UVA a 20-17 lead. Leading 23-22, Kole picked up a solo block and secured the 25-22 set win with an ace.
After a slow start in the third, Virginia had cut the lead to 7-5 but CofC used a 4-0 run to go ahead 11-5. The Cavaliers responded with five-straight points, including two blocks, to cut it to 11-10. The teams remained close with six ties, but the Cougars closed out the set on a 4-1 run to win 25-22 and send it to a fourth set.
In the fourth set, Virginia fell behind early but stayed with College of Charleston and eventually tied the set at 21-21 after two-straight kills by Kole. The Cavaliers continued their run to go ahead 23-21 after a block by Kole and Banker, but the Cougars then tied the set at 23-23. With four more ties the teams went into extra points and College of Charleston scored two-straight to take the win 29-27.
UVA went down early in the fifth and was unable to cut into College of Charleston’s lead as the Cougars went on to win the set 15-8 and clinch the match.
“As a coach, I have to figure out how to get us to be good for three sets and play to 25 points,” Hohenshelt added. “We have been good to about 17 points in each set and tonight we were good for about two and a half sets. I need to be better at helping us finish out those matches.”
Virginia will return home to open Atlantic Coast Conference play on Friday, Sept. 23 against Wake Forest and faces Duke Saturday, Sept. 24 in Memorial Gymnasium.