CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Virginia returns home to Memorial Gymnasium for the first time since 2024 this weekend with matches against Duke on Friday and No. 25 North Carolina on Sunday. First serve on Friday night is set for 7 p.m. while Sunday’s match is scheduled for 1 p.m.
The Cavaliers (5-8, 1-3 ACC) were on the road for its first four ACC matches, which included a 3-2 win in the conference opener at Clemson. Last week, the Hoos dropped a pair of matches on the west coast to Cal and No. 13 Stanford, though the trip saw first-year outside Ella Brodner make her first two starts and lead the team with 12 kills against the Golden Bears.
Duke (10-4, 2-2 ACC) split its matches last weekend with a 3-1 loss to Georgia Tech before sweeping Clemson. The Blue Devil offense features two of the ACC’s most productive outside hitters, as Nataly Moravec ranks fourth in the conference with 4.31 kills per set while Ashby Zubchevich ranks sixth with 3.96 kills per set.
North Carolina (9-3, 4-0 ACC) is off to an unbeaten start to ACC play, including a sweep over Clemson and a five-set victory over Georgia Tech last week. Middle blocker Jackie Taylor has anchored the Tar Heel defense with 1.46 blocks per set, just ahead of Virginia’s Emily Fowler with 1.45 blocks per set. Offensively, outside hitter Safi Hampton has led the way with 3.36 kills per set.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Both Friday’s match with Duke will be streamed on ACC Network Extra while Sunday’s match with North Carolina will be broadcast on the ACC Network. Links to both the broadcast and live stats are available at VirginiaSports.com. Fans can also get updates by following the program’s official X account (@UVAVolleyball).
GAME PROMOTIONS
- Concessions are available for purchase at all matches played at Memorial Gymnasium.
- Sunday’s match with North Carolina features a Welcome Back to Mem Gym rally towel giveaway.
NOTING THE HOOS
- Only six of UVA’s 17 players - Meredith Reeg, Teagan Hogan, Zoey Dood, Sarah Brodner, Becca Wight and Lauryn Bowie - have played a match for the Hoos in Mem Gym. Additionally, Emily Fowler played against Virginia in Mem Gym during her sophomore year at Coastal Carolina in 2024.
- Fourth-year middle Emily Fowler ranks 17th nationally and fourth in the ACC with 1.45 blocks per set. Last season at Coastal Carolina, the All-Sun Belt Second Team selection averaged 1.04 blocks per set. At her current pace, Fowler’s 1.45 blocks per set would be the fourth-best in a single season in UVA history.
- Outside hitters Reagan Ennist and Reese Wuebker are both approaching the 500-kill mark in their careers. Wuebker, a third-year Ohio State transfer, enters the weekend with 498 career kills while Ennist, a second-year, has 476.
- First-year outside hitter Sarah Brodner made her first two starts at Cal and Stanford in the absence of Reagan Ennist. Brodner led the Hoos with 12 kills against the Golden Bears.
SERIES HISTORY
- Virginia has won each of its last two matches with Duke, though the Blue Devils lead the all-time series 59-16.
- North Carolina leads the all-time series with Virginia, 58-16. Against North Carolina, Virginia is seeking its first ranked win since Oct. 4, 2024 (No. 16 Florida State) and its first win over the Tar Heels since Sept. 26, 2021 in Chapel Hill. Additionally, UVA has not beaten North Carolina at home since Oct.14, 2007.
ON THE HORIZON
The Cavaliers prepare for the Commonwealth Clash, as the Hoos host Virginia Tech on Wednesday before traveling down to Blacksburg to take on the Hokies on Friday.