Virginia Volleyball Hosts Duke, Wake Forest

Oct. 19, 2017

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia volleyball team (4-15, 0-8 ACC) returns to Memorial Gymnasium to host Duke on Friday (Oct. 20) at 7 p.m. and Wake Forest on Sunday (Oct. 22) at 1 p.m.

TRACK THE MATCHES
Both matches will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra through ESPN3 or the WatchESPN app. Links for live stats and the live stream will be available on VirginiaSports.com.

HOOS HITS
Sophomore Jelena Novakovic (Belgrade, Serbia) leads Virginia with 2.87 kills per set, 192 total. The right-side hitter has recorded double-digit kills in 10 matches.

Junior Harley Sebastian (Atlanta, Ga.) and freshman Alex Spencer (Canton, Ohio) paced the Cavaliers last weekend with 18 and 17 kills, respectively.

Spencer hit over .350 in both of UVA’s matches last weekend against NC State and North Carolina, with 10 kills against the Wolfpack.

Sophomore Chino Anukwuem (East Hanover, N.J.) has tallied a block in eight-straight matches. Anukwuem leads Virginia with 48 blocks on the season.

OPPONENT INFO
Duke (11-8, 3-5 ACC) is coming off of a loss to Florida State in which Payton Schwantz had a career high 19 kills. The Blue Devils are third in the ACC with 14.60 digs per set and fifth in kills with 13.45 per set.

Virginia ended a losing-skid to Duke on Sept. 25, 2015, when it won 3-1 in Durham. The last time the Cavaliers beat Duke at home was in October of 2005, when UVA won 3-1. The Blue Devils lead the all-time series 51-13.

Wake Forest (10-10, 2-6 ACC) is led by Kylie Long with 286 total points, the fourth most of any player in the ACC. Caroline Rassenfoss is fifth in the ACC in aces per set (0.34), including five aces against Pitt, the third highest total in a game by an ACC player this year.

Virginia’s last win over the Demon Deacons came in a 3-0 sweep at home in 2015. UVA leads the all-time series 26-22.

PROMOTIONS
Friday’s match will be a Sabre Rewards event with free pizza and t-shirts for the first 500 students in attendance. All students attending will receive five Sabre points. It will also serve as Alumni Day with recognition for all alumni in attendance during the match.

Sunday’s match is Girl Scout Day. Those in attendance can stand on-court with the team for the anthem and lineups, will receive a free hot dog and can attend a post-match talk with the team.

UP NEXT
Virginia travels to Boston College on Thursday, Oct. 26 and Syracuse on Sunday, Oct. 29.

PARKING
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).

BAG POLICY
Virginia athletics has updated its bag policies to mirror those already in place for Scott Stadium. At Klöckner Stadium, Turf Field and Memorial Gymnasium the following procedures have been put into effect.

All guests are subject to inspection and search for prohibited items. Event staff will examine the contents of bags, jackets, pockets, or any other personal item before admitting guests to the facility. In order to expedite entrance into the facility, it is recommended that guests not bring bags to events and arrive early at the facility entrances.

Prohibited Items

• Artificial noisemakers^ – see exception below for men’s and women’s soccer games at Klockner Stadium
• Balls, Frisbees, lacrosse sticks, and similar items
• Containers (including plastic or glass bottles, cans, coolers, or flasks)
• Food and beverages
• Strollers (except umbrella strollers) – prohibited at Scott Stadium only
• Umbrellas – prohibited at Scott Stadium only
• Weapons

^For men’s and women’s soccer matches only, artificial noisemakers are allowed; however air horns, whistles, bullhorns or devices that amplify electric sound, including battery-operated devices, are prohibited.

*The University of Virginia reserves the right to prohibit any item deemed hazardous or disruptive to the athletics event or the enjoyment of the event by other guests.

The above procedures are designed to provide a safe and positive experience for all fans in attendance at Virginia athletics events.