Cavaliers Swept by Coastal Carolina in Home Opener

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – After starting the season with three consecutive sweeps of their own, the Virginia Cavaliers (3-1) lost in straight sets to Coastal Carolina (2-3), 25-14, 25-21, 25-18, in their 2024 home opener at Memorial Gymnasium Friday night (Sept. 6). Friday’s match was UVA’s first of its nonconference tournament, the Cavalier Classic.

Brooklyn Borum led the Cavaliers with 10 kills on 39 swings, and only three attack errors. Libero Milan Gomillion recorded a match-high 15 digs and setter Ashley Le dished out a match-high 25 assists along with 11 digs.

Led by Emily Fowler (16k, .424 Hit%), the Chanticleers only committed nine attack errors to hit .333 on the evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Set 1: Coastal Carolina 25, Virginia 14
After Virginia scored the first four points of the match, the Chanticleers rallied and dominated the rest of the set. Fowler put down six balls on 11 swings. Coastal had only one attack error in contrast to UVA’s nine. Gomillion recorded seven digs and Lauryn Bowie checked into the match midway through the set, making her season debut.

Set 2: Coastal Carolina 25, Virginia 21
Virginia was improved in set No. 2, but UVA let a 17-15 lead slip away after CCU made a 6-1 run. Except Borum, who notched six kills in the second, the Cavaliers struggled to terminate balls. UVA totaled nine attack errors in the set, while Fowler – once again – recorded six kills.

Set 3: Coastal Carolina 25, Virginia 18
The score was tied 5-5 when the Chanticleers fired off six consecutive points to effectively put the third out of reach. CCU’s Lauren Malone posted seven kills on 11 swings in the final game. Le tallied five of her 11 digs in set No. 3.

NOTES

• Lauryn Bowie made her season debut after coming off the bench in the first set … she finished with five kills and hit .364.
• Ashley Le recorded a double-double with a match-high 25 assists and 11 digs.
• UVA’s previous three consecutive sweeps are its most to start a season since 2003.
• Coastal improved to 3-1 in the all-time series with Virginia, which began in 1997.

ON THE HORIZON
UVA takes on Hofstra (2-2) and the Chanticleers in a rematch tomorrow to conclude to action at the Cavalier Classic. First serve against the Pride is scheduled for noon, while tomorrow’s nightcap against the Chanticleers is slated for 6:30 p.m. Both matches will stream on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX).

Admission to all 2024 UVA volleyball regular-season matches at Memorial Gymnasium are free to the public.