CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – After splitting the opening weekend of ACC play for the first time since 2021, the Virginia volleyball team (11-2, 1-1 ACC) will welcome No. 16 Florida State (10-2, 2-0 ACC) to Memorial Gymnasium on Friday evening before taking on Miami (9-4, 0-2 ACC) at John Paul Jones Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Match Information
Matchup: Virginia (11-2, 1-1 ACC) vs. No. 16 Florida State (10-2, 2-0 ACC)
Date/Time: Friday, Oct. 4 • 7 p.m.
Location: Memorial Gymnasium (Charlottesville, Va.)
Watch: ACCNX
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Matchup: Virginia (11-2, 1-1 ACC) vs. Miami (9-4, 0-2 ACC)
Date/Time: Sunday, Oct. 6 • 1 p.m.
Location: John Paul Jones Arena (Charlottesville, Va.)
Watch: ACCNX
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Tickets: Purchased here
SEASON OVERVIEW
- This year marks the 46th season of Virginia Volleyball, which held its inaugural season in 1979.
- In 45 complete seasons, UVA is 681-767 (.470) all-time.
- The Cavaliers are set to host 16 home matches in 2024, including the second-ever in John Paul Jones Arena against Miami on Oct. 6.
- Head coach Shannon Wells is in her fourth season at the helm.
SERIES HISTORY
- Florida State leads the all-time series, 43-16, over the Cavaliers and has claimed the last two meetings between the two squads after Virginia upended Florida State in 2022. The Seminoles took the only 2023 match, 3-1 (26-28, 14-25, 25-12, 8-25).
- Miami has the all-time series advantage over Virginia with a record of 20-9. The Hurricanes took the 2023 meeting in four sets (12-25, 22-25, 25-19, 23-25). The last time the Cavaliers defeated the Hurricanes was in 2013 when Virginia won in four sets (28-26, 25-27, 30-28, 25-15).
- For a complete list of series results, visit the Virginia Volleyball Record Book.
LAST TIME OUT
- The Cavaliers opened ACC play with a thrilling reverse sweep at Wake Forest on Sept. 27 before dropping the weekend finale in four sets at NC State.
- In the match with the Demon Deacons, Virginia was led by middle blockers Abby Tadder (11 kills, .308 Hit%, 6 blocks) and Kate Dean (8 kills, .294 Hit%, 5 blocks). On the right side, Lauryn Bowie (10 kills, 7 blocks) also contributed with a double-digit kill performance, and her seven blocks are a career high.
- In the contest with NC State, the Cavaliers were paced by Elayna Duprey (14 kills, .265 Hit%), Tadder (12 kills, 2 aces) and Milan Gomillion (20 digs, 1 ace). Bowie had five solo blocks which were the most by a Cavalier in a single match since 2015.
JPJ TAKEOVER
- Sunday’s contest between the Cavaliers and Hurricanes marks just the second-ever volleyball match to be held at JPJ since it opened in the fall of 2006.
- Last year’s inaugural volleyball contest at JPJ, a Smithfield Commonwealth Clash between the Hoos and Virginia Tech, saw a dramatic finish in front of a program-record 3,162 spectators. After dropping the first two sets, the Cavaliers won the final three sets to successfully mount a five-set comeback victory.
HOT START
- Virginia is off to its best start (11-2) since 2003, when it won 13 straight matches to begin the season.
- It’s only the third time in school history that the Cavaliers have started 11-2 or better. Other years include 2004 and 1998.
- The victory over Wake Forest was the first win in an ACC opener since 2015 when the Cavaliers took down Duke in four sets.
VIRGINIA WELCOMES SEVEN NEWCOMERS IN 2024
- Of UVA’s 16 players on its 2024 roster, seven of them are new to the program.
- The Cavaliers’ roster features three transfers Kadynce Boothe (OH) from Tennessee, Kate Dean (MB) from Eastern Illinois and Elayna Duprey (OH) from Virginia Tech.
- Virginia’s freshmen, which make up the nation’s No. 26 signing class of 2023 according to PrepDig.com, consist of Sarah Brodner (OH/RS), Zoey Dood (S), Teagan Hogan (DS/L) and Becca Wight (RS).
VIRGINIA WELCOMES SEVEN NEWCOMERS IN 2024
- During Sunday’s match with Miami, Virginia will be honoring the 1998 and 1999 Cavalier volleyball teams.
- The 1998 team finished with an impressive 26-8 overall record, including a 12-4 mark in ACC play, setting single-season records for total wins and overall win percentage. It was also the first of only two teams in program history to finish second in the ACC standings.
- In 1999, the Cavaliers began the season with seven straight wins and later advanced to the ACC Tournament semifinals for the second straight year.
- Two members of the 1998 and 1999 teams – Mary Frances Scott and Deanna Zwarich – were named to the ACC’s 50thanniversary volleyball team in 2002.