What boosts a team’s confidence more than winning a game? How about winning three games?
Virginia (14-13, 6-9 ACC) is scheduled to play Maryland (6-21, 2-13 ACC) tomorrow and Boston College (7-19, 1-13 ACC) Saturday, both at 7 p.m. in Memorial Gym. With two weeks until the end of the regular season, the Virginia volleyball team faces the three teams at the bottom of the ACC standings. After defeating N.C. State — currently standing 10th of 12 in the conference — Saturday, the Cavaliers have a good chance to win three matches in a row because their next two opponents, Maryland and Boston College, stand 11th and 12th, respectively, in the conference.
The Cavaliers notched a 3-0 win against N.C. State Saturday following a four-game losing streak that resulted in the Cavaliers falling to ninth in the conference.
“It’s always good to get a win,” sophomore defensive specialist AJ Cushman said. “We need to keep pushing hard in these matches. We beat them both [Maryland and BC] away, and it’s hard to beat a team twice, so we can’t get complacent or anything just because we’ve beaten them the first time.”
Maryland has struggled this season despite its height advantage against every other team in the ACC; all but five of the players on its roster stand 6-foot-1 or taller.
“We know that we can neutralize their size a little bit if we do a great job serving, which will limit what they do offensively,” Virginia coach Lee Maes said.
The key to beating Boston College, Maes said, will be focusing on doing a “great job of controlling the ball and really taking advantage of converting points scored on opportunities.”
Although the Eagles sit at the bottom of the ACC standings and did not play well against the Cavaliers in their first matchup this season, the Cavaliers do not underestimate their opponents.
“We know they’ve improved throughout the season, and it’s important for us to continue our own improvement,” Maes said.
Sophomore setter Kelly Irvin, who is second on the team in assists so far this season with 361, provided 12 in the first match against the Eagles. Irvin and the Cavaliers could begin a late-season push with two big wins this weekend.
“This weekend’s really important for us to finish the season strong,” Irvin said. “It will be an important factor in going into our next matches with Duke and Wake [Forest], which are going to be very competitive matches.”
The Cavaliers have faced some disappointment in their conference play so far this season but are keeping their chins up, thanks in large part to Maes.
“I have learned more volleyball in this year than I have in my entire career of playing volleyball since eighth grade,” Cushman said. “He’s very technical and he wants you to do everything perfect every time. It’s about doing it right.”
One area Maes has focused on all season is serving.
“We have to continue doing a great job with our service game,” Maes said. “It’s been one of our strengths throughout this entire season and it’s allowed us to know that we can count on that aspect of the game to give us an opportunity to win every point because of how well we serve.”
Strong service and strong passing — another area of focus for Maes — must be paired with strong defense for the Cavaliers to win this weekend.
“We’re going to have to dig well,” Cushman said. “Defense wins games, in my opinion.”
The Cavaliers must find a steady level of play, a feat that has occasionally eluded the team this season.
“I think that everyone has to get on the same page and [get] focused on winning the game,” Irvin said.
On this Irvin, an offensive player, and Cushman, a defender, agree: Success this season and for the final few games will be the result of a well-rounded team effort.
“We’re going to have to have a lot of communication,” Cushman said.
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