Virginia Downs Boston College in Five Sets
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia (5-10, 1-4 ACC) rallied from an 8-4 deficit in the fifth set to pick up its first Atlantic Coast Conference victory, toppling Boston College (12-5, 2-3 ACC), 25-23, 23-25, 25-17, 22-25, 16-14.
Milla Ciprian (St. John’s, Fla.) stuffed a career-high 13 attacks, the third-most in Virginia program history to lead the Cavaliers to an historic total of 19 rejections. The 19 blocks as a team are the second most in a five-set match for Virginia. Ciprian added nine kills to her stellar effort.
Sarah Billiard (Matthews, N.C.) led the Cavaliers and the match with 24 kills, one shy of her career high. Billiard was one of three Virginia players in double figures, as Jelena Novakovic (Belgrade, Serbia) and Grace Turner (Cincinnati, Ohio) each added 15 kills to the victory.
Clare Naughton led Boston College with 16 kills in the loss.
SET 1: Virginia 25, Boston College 23
Boston College opened the evening with a 13-8 lead thanks to a .533 hitting percentage early in the first. Virginia closed the gap with a 4-1 run, as Turner floored three kills and added a block assist. Another Virginia run, this one of the 3-0 variety, pulled the Cavaliers within a single point at 19-18.
Turner once again delivered in the clutch, firing off back-to-back aces to close the set for the Cavaliers. The freshman produced seven kills, three digs, two blocks and two aces to lead Virginia to the 25-23 victory.
SET 2: Boston College 25, Virginia 23
For a second time to open the match, Boston College built an early advantage. The Eagles capitalized off four Virginia errors to open a 14-8 lead. Much like the first set, Virginia used a 3-0 run to close within one at 19-18.
Virginia would tie the set at 22-22, but Boston College pulled out a 25-23 win to tie the match.
SET 3: Virginia 25, Boston College 17
Virginia knocked nine of its first 14 attacks to the floor, hitting .643 on the way to building a commanding 15-6 lead. The Cavaliers continued their charge, extending the lead to 20-8 at its widest margin.
The Cavaliers held Boston College to .000 hitting with seven errors. Ciprian jumped in on all four Virginia blocks in the set, part of her career-high 13 rejections on the day.
Billiard hit .857 with six kills to lead Virginia to the dominant 25-17 victory.
SET 4: Boston College 25, Virginia 22
Virginia opened a 12-9 lead in the set, but it would be the largest margin for either side in the frame. Boston College rallied to tie it a 12-12 and the teams traded points to 22-22 with neither side leading by more than two.
The Eagles took a 23-22 lead and then produced back-to-back aces to finish the set.
SET 5: Virginia 16, Boston College 14
Boston College built an 8-4 lead at the turn but Virginia would not go away. The Cavaliers rallied to tie the decisive set at 8-8. After trading points to an 11-10 Boston College lead, Turner’s shot was dug at the last second and frantically poked over the net by Naughton to give the Eagles a 12-10 edge.
Still, Virginia did not fold. Trailing 13-11, the Cavaliers got back-to-back blocks on a solo effort from Billiard and another assisted block from Ciprian and Novakovic. The pair added another block to give Virginia a 15-14 lead before a Boston College error gave Virginia its first ACC victory.
QUICK HITS
• Ciprian’s 13 blocks were the most by a Cavalier since 2007.
• Virginia’s 19 blocks tied for fourth all-time in program history and were the most since 2007.
• Virginia had three players with 15 kills or more. It was the first time since 2016 multiple Cavaliers had 15 kills.
• Turner racked up a double-double with 15 kills and 14 digs. It also gave Turner back-to-back matches with 14 digs.
• Kelsey Miller (Crestwood, Ky.) racked up a match-best 23 digs.
• Alex Spencer (North Canton, Ohio) set a season high with 18 digs.
UP NEXT
Virginia returns to Memorial Gymnasium on Sunday (Oct. 7) for a 1 p.m. first serve against Syracuse.