Virginia Opens ACC Play; Hosts NC State, UNC This Weekend

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia volleyball (8-3) begins ACC play this weekend when it hosts NC State (6-5) on Friday (Sept. 23) at 7 p.m. and North Carolina (8-3) on Sunday (Sept. 25) at 1 p.m. in Memorial Gymnasium.

Admission to all 2022 Virginia volleyball regular-season matches is free to the public (no ticket required).

BROADCAST INFORMATION

• Both of this weekend’s conference matchups from Mem Gym are set to stream on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX) through the ESPN app, which is available through participating TV providers that carry ACC Network.
• Live stats will also be available for both matches and can be accessed via the Cavaliers’ schedule page on com.

PROMOTIONS

PARKING INFORMATION

• Fans planning to attend Virginia volleyball matches this season are encouraged to park in the Culbreth, Central Grounds or Emmet/Ivy parking garages utilizing the ParkMobile app.
• For more information regarding hourly parking locations and payments, visit virginia.edu/parkmobile.

SERIES HISTORY

• Virginia leads the all-time series against the Wolfpack, 39-33, but has lost the previous eight meetings. The Cavaliers’ last win over NC State was a sweep on Nov. 20, 2015 in Mem Gym. The two teams first met on Oct. 31, 1981 with the Wolfpack winning in two sets (15-4, 17-15).
• North Carolina leads the all-time series, 53-16, over the Cavaliers and are winners of 19 of the last 21 meetings. However, Virginia split its pair of matches against the Tar Heels in 2021 as both teams were victorious on the road. The Cavaliers’ four-set win in Chapel Hill on Sept. 26 was UVA’s only win in conference play last year. Former Virginia middle blocker Alana Walker totaled 11 blocks in the win, which stands tied for ninth all-time in program history. As a team, the Cavaliers posted 16.5 blocks to UNC’s 7.0.
• For complete list of series results, visit the Virginia Volleyball Record Book.

 LAST TIME OUT

• Last weekend, Virginia combined for a 2-1 record in its final non-conference tournament after knocking off East Carolina (3-1) and Mercer (3-2) on Sept. 16. The Cavaliers lost in the tournament finale, 3-0, to Maryland on Sept. 17.
• Grace Turner and Chloe Wilson were named to the UVA Tournament All-Tournament Team. Turner led UVA in kills per set (3.08) and averaged 1.83 digs per set. She posted back-to-back double-digit kill performances, including a double-double against ECU with 12 kills and 10 digs. Wilson was second on the squad in kills per set (2.17) and tied her career high of 15 kills while hitting .480 against the Pirates.

AMAZING GRACE (TURNER)

• In a pair of back-to-back matches against Charlotte on Sept. 9 & 10, Grace Turner posted consecutive 20-kill performances. Turner finished match No. 1 against the 49ers, a five-set UVA victory, with a career-high 23 kills and 15 digs. The next day, Turner recorded 22 kills.
• She is the first UVA player to notch back-to-back matches with 20+ kills since 2016.
• Turner also leads the team with eight career (at UVA) double-doubles, including three this season. Entering this weekend’s contests, Turner has 74 career service aces.

 ABBY TADDER IN THE NATIONAL STATISTICAL RANKINGS

• Virginia middle blocker Abby Tadder is currently 32nd in the nation and second in the ACC in hitting percentage with a clip of .394 (99-30-175).
• In addition to her efficient hitting percentage, Tadder leads the Cavaliers in blocks (46.0) and blocks per set (1.02).
• In the first two weekends of play this season, Tadder nabbed all-tournament honors.

 MADISON MOREY ON SPORTSCENTER’S TOP 10 PLAYS

• Virginia libero Madison Morey was featured on Sportscenter’s Top 10 plays for a miraculous diving save that ultimately hit the tape and landed on the opposing side of the net, resulting in a Cavaliers’ point in their second contest against Charlotte (Sept. 10).
• The play was tabbed No. 10 overall.
• It’s not the first time the Hoos have been featured on Sportscenter’s Top 10 Plays. Last season, a kick save by Mary Shaffer against Georgia Tech, which also led to a UVA point, was deemed the No. 3 play on ESPN’s marquee show.

SEASON OVERVIEW

• This year marks the 44th season of Virginia Volleyball, which held its inaugural season in 1979.
• The Hoos are slated to face four AVCA preseason top-25 teams, including three teams ranked in the top 10, in No. 4 Louisville (Oct. 21), No. 6 Pitt (Sept. 28), at No. 9 Georgia Tech (Oct. 7) and at No. 15 Florida (Aug. 27).
• Virginia’s 2022 schedule consists of seven 2021 NCAA Tournament teams in Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina and Pittsburgh.
• With a home-and-home series against Virginia Tech, both matches between UVA and the Hokies will be worth 0.5 points toward the Commonwealth Clash standings, presented by Smithfield.
• The Cavaliers will host 14 home matches in 2022.
• For the first time in history, Virginia faced Purdue Fort Wayne (Sept. 3) and is set to play Mercer (Sept. 16).

THE ACC: THE NATION’S PREMIER VOLLEYBALL CONFERENCE

• Last season, the Atlantic Coast Conference led all conferences in the nation in both RPI and adjusted RPI.
• For the first time in league history, two ACC teams (Louisville and Pitt) advanced to the NCAA Volleyball Tournament semifinals in 2021.
• In addition to the Cardinals and Panthers, Georgia Tech was also one of three ACC teams to advance to the Elite 8, also a first in ACC history.
• A record-tying six ACC schools made the 2021 NCAA Volleyball Tournament, including No. 1 overall seed Louisville, which won 32 consecutive matches last season.