fter scoring 251 points in two days of volleyball, it wouldn't seem like one more would make much of a difference. Still, as Virginia found itself ahead 14-8 facing match point in the deciding fifth game against Georgia Tech, that single kill proved more elusive than the rest.
Battling back from the brink of elimination, the Yellow Jackets reeled off six consecutive points, tying the Cavaliers five times, before squeaking out a 22-20 win to send Virginia packing. As the Cavaliers left a deafening O'Keefe gymnasium, it seemed the luck that had been following the team since early October had finally run out.
After disposing of an aggressive Clemson team 3-2 Friday, the Cavaliers' loss to Georgia Tech decided a heated battle for third place in the ACC. The defeat snaps Virginia's team-record five-match winning streak, and sets the Cavaliers behind the Yellow Jackets in the quest for the conference title.
"We played pretty well," coach Melissa Aldrich Shelton said. "We haven't won in Clemson in a few years, so that was a lot of fun. To be close and not get it [against Georgia Tech] was a little frustrating, but in the big picture, it was a great match. Sometimes I wish the ball had bounced a little better on our side, but overall, it was very exciting."
Although the end of Saturday's match didn't go in their favor, Shelton and the rest of the Cavaliers were able to rally from the brink of elimination after dropping the first two games to the Yellow Jackets.
"After going down 2-0, I pointed out that it wasn't really Georgia Tech that was giving us problems; we were doing it to ourselves," Shelton said. "We were missing serves and needed to tighten it up a little on offense and play better on our side rather than worrying about what they were doing. After that, we settled down and were able to come back."
Sophomore Sarah Kirkwood led the Cavaliers with 22 kills and 17 digs, but was out-paced by Georgia Tech's Talisa Kellogg, who hit .311 with a monstrous 35 kills on the night.
Although she praised the team's consistent hitting over the past few games, Shelton said she was most pleased with the performance of Virginia's middles Shannon Davis and Katie Oakes, who both tallied career-high kill totals against the Yellow Jackets.
"Our middles played really well this weekend," Shelton said. "Shannon Davis and Katie Oakes were outstanding, and I think they're really hitting their stride at this point in the season."
Even after the weekend's setback, it's unlikely the Cavaliers' attitude in practice will suffer much.
"Our team chemistry is really good, so not much has changed in practice at this point in the season," junior middle Stephanie Everett said prior to this weekend's matches.
Up next for the team is a home stand against the North Carolina Tar Heels -- currently sitting in first place in the ACC -- and the Wolfpack of North Carolina State.
Shelton and the Cavaliers will rely on their trigger-happy outside hitters -- who helped tally a season-high 83 kills against Georgia Tech -- to improve on their 3-0 loss to the Tar Heels Sept. 24. As Virginia learned against the Yellow Jackets, however, finishing the match can be just as important as piling on the points.
Read More
Road loss to Syracuse concludes turbulent regular season for men’s basketball
By Emory Huffman | 1 hours agoEntering the ACC Tournament, the Cavaliers are left with more questions than answers.
Men's lacrosse triumphs over Towson in historic Houston matchup
By Eleanor Lynch | 2 hours agoVirginia earned a sorely-needed victory, and established momentum ahead of a pending clash with No. 1 Maryland.
No. 9 Virginia nabs win amid tenuous circumstances in 22-16 run-fest Saturday
By Stephen O'Dea | 3 hours agoThe Cavaliers made five errors for the first time since 2009, but the offense was able to compensate.
