Virginia Drops 3-0 Decision at Duke
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke (12-8, 6-5 ACC) clamped down defensively to sweep Virginia (6-15, 2-9 ACC) 25-14, 25-21, 25-16. The Blue Devils limited the Cavaliers to just .039 hitting in the match, while racking up nine blocks.
Sarah Billiard (Matthews, N.C.) led Virginia with nine kills, finishing below the double-digit plateau for just the third time this season. Milla Ciprian (St. John’s, Fla.) added five kills and five blocks in the loss.
Duke was paced by Payton Schwantz with 12 kills. Along with Schwantz, five other Blue Devils finished with five or more kills in the match.
SET 1: Duke 25, Virginia 14
Two kills from Billiard and a pair of blocks from the outside hitter and Ciprian jumped Virginia to a 4-1 lead. The Cavaliers went on to build a 9-4 advantage, but the lead was short lived.
Duke rallied to tie the match at 11-all and then used a 6-0 run to open a 19-12 lead. The Blue Devils produced 14 kills while limiting Virginia to just five in the set. The Cavaliers hit -.061 in the frame as Duke finished on a 12-2 run.
SET 2: Duke 25, Virginia 21
In a reversal of roles from the first set, Duke leapt to the early advantage with a 7-3 lead. Virginia responded with a 3-0 run to level the set at 8-8, before going on a 4-0 run to establish a 13-9 lead. Christine Jarman (Boynton Beach, Fla.) sparked the run and Jelena Novakovic (Belgrade, Serbia) capped it with a service ace.
Duke once again had a rally, however, using a trio of short runs to build a 20-16 lead. The Blue Devils went on to claim the set 25-21.
SET 3: Duke 25, Virginia 16
Duke rolled out to a 9-3 lead behind a trio of blocks. The early lead proved more than enough for the Blue Devils, as Virginia would come no closer than four the rest of the way.
Jessi Bartholomew and Schwantz co-led Duke with three kills in the set. The Blue Devils hit a match-best .312 to close the sweep.
QUICK HITS
• Kelsey Miller (Crestwood, Ky.) led Virginia with 12 digs. It was the sixth-straight match in double-figures for the libero.
• Virginia’s .039 hitting percentage and 26 kills were both season lows.
• Ciprian finished with at least five blocks for the sixth time this season.
UP NEXT
Virginia travels to Wake Forest on Sunday (Oct. 28) for a 1 p.m. first serve against the Demon Deacons.