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Sept. 22, 2016

Virginia hosts Wake Forest and Duke
Wake Forest Date/Time Friday, September 23, 7 p.m.
Wake Forest Multimedia/Game Info ACC Network Extra
Duke Date/Time Saturday, September 24, 7 p.m.
Duke Multimedia/Game Info ACC Network Extra
Location Charlottesville, Va. | Memorial Gymnasium
Additional Information Ticket Info | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia volleyball team returns home after three weeks on the road to open Atlantic Coast Conference play as it hosts Wake Forest Friday at 7 p.m. and Duke Saturday at 7 p.m. in Memorial Gymnasium.

Both matches will be streamed live on the ACC Network Extra on WatchESPN. Links for the stream and live stats will be available on VirginiaSports.com. Friday’s match will be a Sabre Rewards Event. Admission for Saturday’s match will be free with a Central Michigan football ticket.

Virginia (3-9, 0-0) finished non-conference play at the Baylor Classic, falling to Baylor, 3-0, Washington State, 3-0, and dropping a close five-set match to College of Charleston, 3-2.

The Cavaliers have had success in Memorial Gymnasium, going 10-3 last season, and opened the 2016 season at home with a 2-1 finish in the Cavalier Classic. UVA enters conference play fifth in the league in blocks, averaging 2.37 blocks per set. Virginia has recorded double-figure blocks in five matches, including a season-high 17.0 against College of Charleston.

Senior Haley Kole (Tallahassee, Fla.) leads the UVA offense with 2.79 kills per set. Kole has recorded double-digit kills in six matches this season. Freshman Chino Anukwuem (East Hanover, N.J.) ranks sixth in the ACC with 1.23 blocks per set. Anukwuem had a career-high 10 blocks against College of Charleston.

Wake Forest (4-7) finished 1-2 in its home tournament to close non-conference play. The Demon Deacons defeated Charlotte, 3-1, and fell to Wofford, 3-2, and High Point, 3-1. Kylie Long leads the team with 3.82 kills per set to rank fifth in the conference and Caroline Rassenfoss ranks seventh with 3.40 kills per set.

Virginia leads Wake Forest 26-20 in the series. The teams split the two meetings last season, with Wake winning in Winston Salem, 3-2, and the Cavaliers picking up a 3-0 win at home.

Duke (6-4) has won two-straight matches entering the weekend. The Blue Devils defeated Campbell, 3-0, and UNCW, 3-2, this past weekend. Jordan Tucker leads the offense with 2.79 kills per set and Cindy Marina is averaging 10.18 assists per set to rank fourth in the ACC. Sasha Karelov ranks second in the league with 4.79 digs per set to lead the back line.

This will be the 63rd meeting in the series with Duke leading UVA 49-13. Last season’s matches were split as Virginia snapped a 17-match losing streak with a 3-1 win in Durham, but the Blue Devils earned a 3-0 win in Charlottesville. The last home-win for the Cavaliers over the Blue Devils was a 3-1 victory on Oct. 7, 2005.

Game-day parking for volleyball matches is available free of charge at the Culbreth Road Garage, located behind Carr’s Hill Field. Limited parking is available at the Central Grounds Garage (hourly rates apply).

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