The undefeated Virginia women's volleyball team (7-0) will look to extend their winning streak when they host in-state rival Virginia Tech (4-3) this evening at 7 p.m. Riding a wave of accomplishments and successes, the Cavaliers are going into tonight's highly anticipated match-up with a great deal of momentum.
Last weekend, Virginia's Memorial Gym was home to the Jefferson Cup tournament, in which the Cavaliers finished a perfect 3-0 en route to taking the title.
Senior libero Whitney Ashcroft was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after posting 33 digs. Also earning honors were outside hitters senior Paige Davis and freshman Lindsay Osco who were both named to the All-Tournament Team.
In their most recent game last Saturday evening, Virginia came out to a 2-0 lead and held off George Mason for a 3-2 (30-26, 30-24, 19-30, 28-30, 15-12) victory. Ashcroft's 33 digs were a career high, and Osco posted career highs with 16 kills and 17 digs. Davis tallied a season-high 23 kills and added eight digs and eight blocks.The Patriots were the victors in games three and four, but Virginia maintained composure and closed out the match with four consecutive points to win game five, 15-12.
Currently riding a seven-game winning streak to start the season, Virginia has matched the second-best start in program history.
"The early success is going to help a lot," coach Melissa Aldrich Shelton said. "We needed confidence after the last two years.It has been great to start off the fall like we have and I think the girls are slowly learning the effort it takes on every single point to win."
The Cavaliers will need to apply the lessons of the weekend in tonight's game with Virginia Tech. The Hokies most recently competed in the Outback Steakhouse Invitational, held in Raleigh, N.C. They lost a pair of matches in the final day of the tournament to Texas Christian University and North Carolina State by scores of 3-1 and 3-2, respectively. The Hokies were led by junior Annie Spicer, who recorded a double-double with 19 kills and 15 digs.Although they are coming off two tough losses, Virginia Tech is not an opponent to be overlooked --- the Hokies defeated Virginia in last year's matchup.
The Cavalier squad will take on Virginia Tech in Memorial Gym, the newly refurbished home of Virginia volleyball. The site, which is smaller than University Hall where Virginia used to compete, has become a fast favorite for the Cavaliers.
"This facility is head over heels over U-Hall," Aldrich Shelton said. "U-Hall is a nice building, but it is not a volleyball facility.It was too big, too empty.This is just the perfect facility for volleyball and we are so thankful."
Co-captain Ashcroft expressed her preference for the feel of Memorial Gym as well and said she thinks the atmosphere will be beneficial in taking on Virginia Tech.
"It's really nice to be back in Memorial Gym," Ashcroft said. "We feel like it is our own court; we practice in here every day. The crowd is so much closer to you. It gives us a lot more energy."
The new energy should give the Cavaliers an edge in the match tonight.
"Virginia Tech is always somebody that we really get up for," Ashcroft said. "They are always gunning to beat us. It is the big rivalry in Virginia and we are definitely excited to play them."
In what is sure to be a competitive battle, the Cavaliers will look to extend their winning streak with a monumental victory.
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