ACC Road Trip Concludes at Virginia Tech
Game Notes | Watch | Live Stats
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia volleyball (4-7, 0-1 ACC) heads to Virginia Tech (9-3, 0-0 ACC) on Sunday (Sept. 23) afternoon for a 1 p.m. first serve as the opening week of ACC play concludes. The match will air live on ACC Network Extra.
GAME COVERAGE
ACC Network Extra is available to authenticated subscribers of ESPN3 through WatchESPN and the ESPN app. Fans can also get in-game updates on the match’s live stats feed on VirginiaSports.com and on volleyball’s official twitter feed (@UVAVolleyball).
COMMONWEALTH CLASH
Sunday’s match is sponsored by Virginia529, the official college savings plan of University of Virginia Athletics. It is also worth one-half point in the Commonwealth Clash, the point rivalry series between the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech and presented by Virginia529. Learn more about Virginia529 and this competition at TheCommonwealthClash.com.
MATCH NOTES
• Virginia and Virginia Tech are meeting for the 40th consecutive season. The two have clashed in every season since the inception of the Virginia program in 1979.
• In its 72nd rendition, the rivalry is the most frequently played matchup in Virginia history.
• This is the eighth time the two sides meet in the opening week of ACC play since the Hokies joined the ACC in 2004.
SERIES HISTORY
• Virginia and Virginia Tech meet for the 72nd time on Sunday with the Hokies holding a 36-35 edge in the series.
• The Cavaliers’ have dropped each of the past five meetings in the Commonwealth Clash, but three of those matches were decided in five sets.
• Virginia’s last win in the series came on Oct. 2, 2015, when the Cavaliers earned a 3-1 decision at home.
• Three of the past four meetings in Blacksburg have gone to five sets.
• Virginia’s last victory at Virginia Tech came in 3-2 fashion in 2014.
• Both teams hold 21-12 advantages at home in the series.
LAST TIME OUT
• Virginia opened ACC play at No. 9 Pitt on Wednesday night, falling 3-0 to the Panthers.
• Jelena Novakovic (Belgrade, Serbia) led the Cavaliers with nine kills on the night and added a career-best seven blocks.
• Sophomore Alex Spencer (North Canton, Ohio) set a career high with her .582 hitting percentage (8-1-12).
• Freshman Milla Ciprian (St. John’s, Fla.) put up a career-best seven blocks as well.
HOOS BLOCKING
• Virginia recorded 12 blocks on Wednesday night against Pitt, marking the third match the Cavaliers have hit a dozen rejections in 11 matches to start the season.
• It’s the earliest Virginia has had three matches with 12 or more blocks since 2015.
• Wednesday was also the first time the Cavaliers recorded 12 blocks in a three-set match since 2016, a 58-match span.
• The 12 rejections rank sixth by a Virginia team in the rally-scoring era.
UP NEXT FOR THE HOOS
• Virginia returns home next weekend to host Florida State on Friday (Sept. 28) and Miami on Sunday (Sept. 30).
• Friday’s match against Florida State represents the ACC home opener.
• The Cavaliers are 10-13 all-time against Miami, dropping a pair of five-set decisions last season.
• Virginia will play its next four matches at home.