Virginia Drops Home Finale to Wake Forest
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia (12-15, 4-12 ACC) fell 25-21, 25-23, 27-25, to Wake Forest (15-13, 7-10 ACC) in its final home contest of 2022 on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 20) at Memorial Gymnasium.
The Cavaliers were led by Abby Tadder, who tied for a match-high 14 kills and hit .346 on the right pin. Setter Gabby Easton finished with a match-high 35 assists as both teams logged 44 kills each.
Mattison Matthews (9 kills, .375 Hit%), Grace Turner (11 kills, 4 blocks) and Veresia Yon (6 blocks) also contributed for the Hoos.
Set 1: Wake Forest 25, Virginia 21
Wake led 15-12 at the media timeout, but UVA scored five straight points later in the set to take a 19-17 lead with Brooklyn Borum behind the service line for four consecutive points. The Demon Deacons signaled for time and broke up the UVA’s run by scoring right away. After the Cavaliers scored on the next two plays, Wake then closed out the set by firing off seven straight scores to claim the first, 25-21. Matthews tallied five of her nine kills and hit .571 in the opening frame. Despite the result of set No. 1, Virginia finished out-hit Wake, .323 to .281.
Set 2: Wake Forest 25, Virginia 23
The Cavaliers led by as many as four (10-6) early in the second. Later on, the Wake tallied five straight points to grasp a 17-14 lead. Virginia embarked on a 4-1 run to regain an advantage (22-21) with four straight kills by Matthews, Tadder, Turner and Borum. After Wake signaled for time, it was the Demon Deacons, once again, who were able to come up with points late in the set. Wake won four of the final five plays to seize the second, 25-23, and take a 2-0 lead heading into intermission. Both teams combined for 34 kills in game No. 2, including 18 by UVA. Tadder had seven of her 14 total kills in the second frame.
Set 3: Wake Forest 27, Virginia 25
After Wake led 6-4 to open the third, UVA posted six straight points, which were highlighted by back-to-back block assists by Easton and Yon. Four unanswered scores by the Demon Deacons tied the frame, 15-15, later in the set. Virginia ultimately tied the set, once again, at 23-23 on another block by Yon. Wake won the next play to gain set point, 24-23, before head coach Shannon Wells signaled for time. Coming out of the huddle, the Cavaliers executed a perfect play a slide to Tadder, whose 14th and final kill of the match evened the score, 24-24. A Cavaliers’ service error on the next play did not help their cause, but a heroic block solo by Easton saved match point and evened the score once again, 25-25. The match ended when the Demon Deacons scored on a kill, which was followed by Wake’s sixth service ace of the match.
NOTES
- Abby Tadder tied for a match-high 14 kills and hit .346.
- For the second consecutive match, Gabby Easton tallied 35 assists in just three sets. Easton had 36 assists in UVA’s sweep over Virginia Tech on Nov. 11.
- Sunday’s contest marked the final match in Mem Gym for fifth-year outside hitter Grace Turner and fourth-year middle blocker Mattison Matthews.
- The match was UVA’s first since the shooting of five UVA students on Grounds one week ago (Nov. 13). The incident resulted in the deaths of three members of the UVA football team – Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry.
- With the win, the Demon Deacons tied the all-time series, 28-28, which began in 1980. Wake also tallied its fifth straight win in the series.
UP NEXT
The Cavaliers travel to NC State (14-13, 8-8 ACC) on Wednesday (Nov. 23). First serve from Reynolds Coliseum is set for 3 p.m. on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX).