Virginia Returns to Mem to Welcome Virginia Tech, Wake Forest

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia volleyball team (8-12, 1-9 ACC) returns to Memorial Gymnasium for the first time in 19 days to face Virginia Tech (9-13, 0-10 ACC) at 7 p.m. on Friday in the Commonwealth Clash presented by Smithfield. On Sunday, the Cavaliers play host to Wake Forest (11-10, 2-8 ACC) at 1 p.m.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION

• Both matches are set to stream on ACCNX.
• Live stats can be accessed on the Cavalier volleyball schedule page.
• Fans can also get updates by following Virginia Volleyball’s official Twitter account (@UVAVolleyball).

SERIES HISTORY

• Virginia Tech leads the all-time series, 37-39, as the Hokies are currently riding a two-match win streak over UVA.
• The Cavaliers lead the all-time series, 28-24, over Wake Forest. UVA and the Demon Deacons split their pair of matchups against each other in 2019, both earning home victories.

LAST TIME OUT

• Last weekend, Virginia dropped both of its matchups, 3-0, at #2 Louisville (Oct. 22) and Notre Dame (Oct. 24).

THE CAVALIERS’ GRUELING SLATE

• UVA’s match at No. 2 Louisville (Oct. 22) marked the fourth AVCA top-25 and third top-5 opponent of the season … All three of UVA’s top-5 opponents have been played outside of Mem Gym.
• During its 19-day hiatus from Mem Gym, UVA faced four opponents in Florida State (RV), Miami (RV), #2 Louisville and Notre Dame, all of which currently combine for an average RPI rank of 18.5 (includes all matches played through Oct. 24).
• Entering this weekend, UVA has played 10 ACC matches … Nine of those 10 opponents are in the top-10 among ACC programs in both RPI and the ACC standings.

VIRGINIA IS UNDEFEATED WHEN…

• Virginia is 6-0 when leading its opponents in kills and 7-0 when leading in hitting percentage.
• The Cavaliers are 6-0 this season when winning the first set.

BLOCK PARTY

• Virginia is currently eighth in the nation and second in the ACC in blocks per set (2.76) … The only other team in the ACC that averages more than 2.76 blocks per set is Louisville (2.93), which is currently sixth in the nation.
• UVA has led its opponents in blocks in 13 of its 20 matches played so far this season and has a winning record of 8-5 when out-blocking its opponents.

ALANA WALKER, ONE OF THE NATION’S BEST MIDDLE BLOCKERS

• Virginia middle blocker Alana Walker is currently third in the nation and leads the ACC in blocks per set (1.59) … Walker is also fifth in the nation and first in the ACC in total blocks (111).
• Walker, the daughter of former NBA All-Star Antoine Walker, is also 21st in career blocks among active Division I players with 444 total blocks.
• Walker has tied her career high of 11 blocks on two occasions this season, most recently in UVA’s five-set match against Clemson (Oct. 10) … However, Walker also notched 11 rejections in the Cavaliers’ four-set win at North Carolina (Sept. 26), which was also the first ACC win of the Shannon Wells era … Walker, a graduate transfer from Northwestern, set a career-high 11 blocks against Indiana (Nov. 23, 2018) while playing for the Wildcats.
• Walker is the only player on Virginia’s 2021 roster that was signed by Wells and her staff.

(GR)ACE TURNER

• Virginia senior outside hitter Grace Turner is currently sixth in the ACC in aces per set (0.37) and tied for fifth in total aces (26).
• Turner tallied a career-best five aces, the most by any UVA player in a single match this season, in the Cavaliers’ sweep over Hofstra (Aug. 28) and five-set win over Akron (Sept. 3).
• As of Oct. 28, Turner is the only player in the ACC this season to record at least two five-ace performances.

HOT START

• With an overall record of 8-4, Virginia recorded its best start through its first 12 matches of the season since 2015.
• In 2015, the Cavaliers finished with an overall record of 18-13 and went 10-10 in ACC play.

ACC ON THE RISE

• Three ACC volleyball teams are ranked in the latest AVCA coaches poll in No. 2 Louisville, No. 4 Pitt and No. 14 Georgia Tech … Miami and Florida State are receiving votes … Virginia has played all five teams that earned votes in the most recent AVCA poll.
• The ACC is the only league with six teams in the top 20 of the Oct. 24 RPI … No. 1 Pitt leads the conference, followed by No. 4 Louisville, No. 7 Georgia Tech, No. 15 Miami, No. 19 North Carolina and No. 20 Florida State.
• The ACC is 8-2 in non-conference matches when both teams are ranked, 7-3 against top-15 opponents and 4-2 against top-10 opponents.
• The ACC is 127-33 in non-conference competition with a .794 win percentage, both the best among Power Five conferences.