CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — Despite tallying a season-high 20.0 blocks, the Virginia volleyball team (8-20, 1-17 ACC) dropped its final match of the 2021 season in five sets (25-20, 14-25, 25-14, 18-25, 13-15) at Boston College (16-16, 6-12 ACC) Friday afternoon in Power Gym. The Cavaliers’ 20.0 blocks tied for sixth all-time in program history and tied for second among five-set matches. Only 23 Division-I programs had tallied at least 20.0 blocks in a single match this season entering Friday’s match.

UVA was led by middle blocker Alana Walker, who in her final collegiate tallied a team-high 10 total blocks, including three solo. Walker was just one block shy of tying her career high. Walker also added eight kills.

Additionally, Brooklyn Borum notched her seventh double-double of the season on 10 kills and 10 digs. Borum’s seven double-doubles are the most by any Cavalier this season, which she achieved in her freshman campaign.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Both teams were tied 15-15 in the opening set before Virginia scored 10 of the last 15 points of the set to win it, 25-20. The Cavaliers were led by Grace Turner and Abby Tadder. Turner had three kills on six swings with just one error, while Tadder totaled four blocks in the first. Set No. 1 saw 10 tied scores and six lead changes. The Cavalier defense held BC hitters to just a .030 hitting percentage.
  • The Eagles evened the match 1-1 after winning set No. 2, 25-14. Boston College went on a 9-0 run in the middle of the set, which ultimately put the set out of reach for the Cavaliers.
  • Virginia regained the lead (2-1) after winning the third, 25-14. The Cavaliers were led by Walker, who posted four blocks and two kills. With the score 20-13, Virginia closed out the set by winning five of the last six points with Turner leading the Cavaliers’ effort behind the service line during the run.
  • In the fourth, the Cavaliers trailed by seven (11-18) before going on a 3-0 run, but the Eagles finished game No. 4 by scoring on seven of the last 11 plays to win it, 25-18.
  • Virginia secured a 5-1 lead to open the decisive fifth set, but the Eagles clawed their way back to tie the set 11-11 and eventually led 12-11. Borum’s final kill of the match and Walker’s third block solo flipped the score and put Virginia back on top, 13-12. Then, BC scored three straight point by way of two UVA attack errors and an Eagles’ kill.

NOTES

  • The Cavaliers’ 20.0 blocks tied for sixth all-time in program history and tied for second among five-set matches.
  • Only 23 Division-I programs had tallied at least 20.0 blocks in a single match this season entering Friday’s match.
  • For her career, Walker appeared in 134 matches, 478 sets, and collected 923 kills and 484 blocks, including 84 solos.
  • Leland concluded her four-year stint as a Cavalier with 464 digs, including a career-best 273 digs this season. She appeared in 86 matches and 260 sets, dating back to the 2018 season.
  • Friday’s contest was the final career match for UVA graduate transfer middle blocker Alana Walker.