Virginia Visits Ohio for Bobcat Invitational
Watch (OU Match) | Live Stats | Game Notes
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia volleyball team (3-4) will look to snap a three-game slide at the Bobcat Invitational hosted by Ohio on Friday (Sept. 13) and Saturday (Sept. 14). The Cavaliers will take on UConn (3-3) and College of Charleston (0-5) in Friday action before challenging host Ohio (3-4) on Saturday.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 6
10 a.m. – UConn
5 p.m. College of Charleston
Saturday, Sept. 7
2 p.m. – at Ohio
HOW TO FOLLOW
Fans can watch Virginia take on Ohio Saturday afternoon on WatchESPN and the ESPN app. A link to the broadcast is available on VirginiaSports.com along with links to live stats for all three matches.
SERIES HISTORY
Virginia and UConn meet for the fifth time in series history to open the Bobcat Invitational on Friday. The series is tied 2-2. UConn has captured both meetings this century, earning a 3-1 win in 2011 and a sweep in 2016.
The Cavaliers are 1-2 all-time against College of Charleston, with the Cougars taking each of the last two meetings. Both Charleston victories came in five sets, most recently in 2016.
Virginia and Ohio meet for the sixth time with the Hoos holding a 3-2 edge in the series. The last meeting came in 2017, a 3-0 sweep for Virginia.
MILLER KEYING DEFENSE
As a junior, Kelsey Miller (Crestwood, Ky.) produced her best season on Grounds in 2018 by recording 3.97 digs per set. She also improved drastically in serve receive, cutting her errors in half from her first two seasons.
Early returns have been great for Miller in 2019, as she is averaging 4.32 digs per set and has amassed 15 or more digs in 6-of-7 matches. On Tuesday against Liberty, she dug up 17 attacks in the three sets.
Miller now ranks 12th all-time on the career digs list. She needs just 117 to move into the top 10 in program history.
MATTHEWS MAKING AN IMPACT
Freshman middle blocker Mattison Matthews (Charleston, S.C.) has made her way into the starting lineup over the last two matches for the Cavaliers. In those two starts, Matthews has 13 kills and seven blocks.
Over the past two matches, Matthews has hit .458 (13-2-24) and formed a formidable tandem at middle blocker alongside sophomore Milla Ciprian.
TURNER OUT FOR 2019
Head coach Aaron Smith announced Wednesday that Virginia will be without sophomore outside hitter Grace Turner (Cincinnati, Ohio) for the remainder of the season. Turner suffered a season-ending knee injury against Coastal Carolina in the Cavaliers’ third match of the season.
LOOKING AHEAD
Following the weekend trip to Ohio, Virginia returns home to host the Jefferson Cup to close non-conference action. The Jefferson Cup opens on Friday, Sept. 20, in Memorial Gymnasium.