Virginia Set To Host No. 1 Pittsburgh, No. 12 SMU At Memorial Gymnasium

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – After knocking off Syracuse and Boston College on the road, the Virginia volleyball team (17-4, 7-3 ACC) returns to Memorial Gymnasium on Friday to host No. 1 Pittsburgh (19-1, 9-1 ACC) before welcoming No. 12 SMU (17-4, 7-3 ACC) to town on Sunday.

Match Information

Matchup: Virginia (17-4, 7-3 ACC) vs. No. 1 Pittsburgh (19-1, 9-1 ACC)
Date/Time: Friday, Nov. 1 • 7 p.m.
Location: Memorial Gymnasium (Charlottesville, Va.)
Watch: ACCXN
Live Stats: Statbroadcast

Matchup: Virginia (17-4, 7-3 ACC) vs. No. 12 SMU (17-4, 7-3 ACC)
Date/Time: Sunday, Nov. 3 • 2 p.m.
Location: Memorial Gymnasium (Charlottesville, Va.)
Watch: ACC Network
Live Stats: Statbroadcast

SEATING INFORMATION

• All matches hosted at Memorial Gymnasium are free to the public.
• Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis with the doors opening one hour before first serve.

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.

 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 have six home matches remaining this season, starting Nov. 1 against No. 1 Pittsburgh.
• Head coach Shannon Wells is in her fourth season at the helm.

SERIES HISTORY

• Pitt leads the all-time series, 17-3, over Virginia. The Panthers and the Cavaliers have not met since 2022 when Pitt won in four sets (25-23,19-25,16-25,15-25). Friday also marks the first that UVA has hosted a top-ranked team since welcoming No. 1 Cal to Memorial Gymnasium in 2011.
• Sunday’s match is the first meeting in program history between Virginia and SMU.
• For a complete list of series results, visit the Virginia Volleyball Record Book.

LAST TIME OUT

• The Cavaliers downed Boston College in five sets on Sunday for the program’s first winning road ACC weekend since 2016.
• Elayna Duprey had a match-high 18 kills and a career-best four service aces on Sunday to lead the Virginia attack. In addition to Duprey, Brooklyn Borum picked up her second double-double of the year with a season-high 14 kills and 15 digs.
• UVA moved to 6-1 on the season in five-set matches, which is the most five-set wins in a season since 2003.

 HOT START

• Virginia is off to its best start since 2003 when the Cavaliers won 20 of the first 25 matches of the season.
• UVA is off to its best 10-match start in ACC play since starting 8-2 in 2005.
• The Cavaliers’ 17 wins on the season are the most since UVA went 18-13 during the 2015 campaign.

 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, who made 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).

HOOS IN THE NATIONAL AND ACC RANKINGS

• As a team, Virginia ranks top 40 nationally in opponent hitting percentage (.171/36th), while leading the ACC in team kills (1,048) and team assists (953).
• Abby Tadder, Milan Gomillion and Kate Dean lead the way in the individual rankings. Tadder ranks 109th nationally in total blocks with 87. Gomillion’s 348 digs on the season place her 80th nationally and her digs per set mark of 4.24 also ranks her 86th in the country. Following a stellar start to ACC play, Kate Dean ranks 45th in the country with a .369 hitting percentage.