CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia volleyball team (8-6, 0-3 ACC) competes in its first ACC road contest of the season at Duke (9-5, 0-3 ACC) on Sunday (Oct. 2). First serve from Cameron Indoor Stadium is set for 4 p.m.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

  • Sunday’s matchup will be broadcast on ACC Network and stream on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX) through the ESPN app, which is available through participating TV providers that carry ACC Network.
  • Krista Blunk (play-by-play) and Emily Ehman (analyst) will have the call.
  • Live stats will also be available for both matches and can be accessed via the Cavaliers’ schedule page on com.

SERIES HISTORY

  • The Blue Devils lead the all-time series, 57-14, and are winners of the last nine meetings.
  • The Cavaliers are seeking the program’s first win over Duke since its 3-1 victory on Sept. 25, 2015 in Durham, N.C.
  • In Virginia’s most recent win over the Blue Devils in 2015, the Cavaliers had four players register double-digit kills, including Anna Walsh, who posted 18 kills on 30 swings and hit .500. Both teams also recorded 73 digs each. 

LAST TIME OUT

  • Virginia fell to No. 10 Pittsburgh in four sets (25-23, 19-25, 16-25, 15-25) in Memorial Gymnasium on Wednesday night (Sept. 28).
  • The Cavaliers’ 17.5 blocks tied for fifth all-time in program history among four-set matches. UVA’s 17.5 blocks also tied for fourth among four-set matches after the implementation of the rally-scoring format (since 2001).
  • Middle blocker Abby Tadder registered a career-high nine blocks, including one solo. Outside hitter Grace Turner (16 kills) led UVA in kills for the 11th time this season and setter Ashley Le (11 assists, 10 digs) registered her fifth career double-double.
  • With its 25-23 win over Pitt in game No. 1, the Cavaliers claimed the program’s second-ever set win over a top-10 opponent. The first time UVA won a set over a top-10 foe was on Sept. 11, 2009 against No. 8 UCLA. Prior to Wednesday night’s set No. 1 win over the Panthers, Virginia had lost in straight sets to its last seven top-10 opponents.

AMAZING GRACE (TURNER)

  • Grace Turner has been a workhorse for the Cavaliers this season, having started in all 14 matches and appeared in all 59 possible sets as a six-rotation outside hitter.
  • She leads the Cavaliers in kills per set (3.47), aces per set (0.46), points per set (4.17) and total receptions (429). Her 0.46 aces per set and 4.17 points-per-set averages are good for fifth in the ACC, while her 3.47 kills per set stand at No. 7 in the league.
  • Turner has posted four 20-kill matches on the season and has done so on back-to-back occasions twice: first against Charlotte (Sept. 9 & 10) and second against NC State (Sept. 23) and North Carolina (Sept. 25). Earlier this season, she became the first UVA player to notch back-to-back 20-kill performances since 2016.
  • Turner also leads the Cavaliers with eight career double-doubles, including three this season.
  • Last year, Turner finished with 27 total aces, a personal best for her in a single season. Through the first 14 of the Cavaliers’ 29 scheduled matches, Turner has matched that with 27 aces in 2022.

ABBY TADDER AMONG THE ACC’S STATISTICAL LEADERS

  • Virginia middle blocker Abby Tadder is currently third in the ACC in total blocks (65), ninth in blocks per set (1.10) and 10th in hitting percentage (.327).
  • She also leads the Cavaliers in all three categories (min. 3 TA/set).
  • In the first two weekends of play this season, Tadder nabbed all-tournament honors.
  • Like Turner, Tadder has started in all 14 matches this season and appeared in all possible 59 sets.

MARY SHAFFER’S DUKE CONNECTION

  • The mother of Virginia right side hitter Mary Shaffer, Janie Shaffer (formerly Janie Borcherding), helped Duke win three ACC volleyball titles (1991-92-93).
  • As a freshman in 1990, she served a conference-record 14 aces against Mercer, which is still the Duke single-match record.
  • Janie Shaffer is a four-time letterwinner (1990-91-92-93) for the Blue Devils.
  • Janie Shaffer, who grew up across from Cincinnati in Northern Kentucky, chose Duke over the University of Kentucky, where Mary Wise was an assistant coach. READ MORE

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.

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).