The Virginia volleyball team participated in the Bobcat Invitational at the Convocation Center in Athens, Ohio, over the weekend and finished the tournament with a record of 2-1. The Cavaliers (5-5, 0-0 ACC) beat Connecticut and College of Charleston Friday, but fell to Ohio Saturday.
Game 1: Connecticut
Virginia began the tournament with a straight-set victory over Connecticut (3-6, 0-0 AAC) Friday morning by a score of 25-20, 28-26, 25-18.
The first set was tightly contested, as both teams traded points until it was 9-9. At that point, the Cavaliers went on a 6-2 run to open up a 15-11 lead. The Huskies responded by winning five of the next six points to tie the set at 16-16. Virginia answered with a 5-1 run of its own and hung on to claim the opening set.
Connecticut played well at the beginning of the second set and built up a 14-6 lead. However, Virginia got hot and went on a 14-3 run to take a 20-17 lead. Both teams battled down the stretch, and the set went to extra points. It was a tense finish, but Virginia came out on top by winning the set 28-26.
The Huskies got off to a strong start again and led 12-6 early on in the third set. The Cavaliers stormed back and won 14 of the next 17 points to take a 20-15 lead, and they eventually took the set by a score of 25-18, winning the match 3-0.
Junior outside hitter Sarah Billiard and freshman middle blocker Mattison Matthews led the Cavaliers with nine kills each, and senior libero Kelsey Miller posted a team-high 12 digs.
Game 2: College of Charleston
Fresh off a morning victory, Virginia defeated College of Charleston (1-7, 0-0 CAA) in four sets Friday night by a score of 25-9, 12-25, 25-14, 25-21.
The Cavaliers dominated the first set, as they raced out to an 11-1 lead and never looked back. Virginia ended up winning the set 25-9, recording a hitting percentage of .440 for the set.
Charleston returned the favor in the second set, as the team ended up winning 25-12. The Cougars jumped out to a 12-3 lead and cruised from that point on in the set.
The third set was more competitive, as neither team gained a significant advantage early on. With the score 11-10 in favor of Charleston, Virginia took off and went on a 6-0 run to take a five-point lead. The Cavaliers then won 9 of the next 12 points to win the third set 25-14.
The fourth set was back-and-forth at the start, with Charleston gaining a 13-10 lead. The Cavaliers fell behind 17-14, but went on a 6-1 run to take a two-point lead. The Cougars tied it at 20-20, but the Cavaliers closed the set and the match by winning five of the last six points.
Senior right side hitter Jelena Novakovic had a solid all-around performance, leading the Cavaliers with 12 kills and 7 aces.
The Cavaliers stifled the Cougars, limiting them to a .039 hitting percentage on the night.
Game 3: Ohio
Virginia concluded the tournament by falling to Ohio (6-4, 0-0 MAC) in straight sets Saturday afternoon by a score of 25-21, 25-18, 25-22.
The Cavaliers played well to open the first set, as they raced out to a 15-9 lead. The Bobcats rebounded and went on a 9-1 run to take an 18-16 lead. Virginia tied it at 19-19, but Ohio scored six of the final eight points to take the first set 25-21.
Ohio opened the second set with three consecutive points and never looked back as it comfortably won 25-18.
The Bobcats got off to another fast start in the third set and led 11-6 early on. Virginia rallied and tied the match at 21-21, but Ohio closed the set on a 4-1 run to win the match in straight sets.
Billiard, freshman outside hitter Jayna Francis and Novakovic led the Cavaliers with eight kills apiece, while Francis and Miller each tallied double-digit digs.
Virginia returns to action next weekend when it hosts the Jefferson Cup at Memorial Gymnasium. Virginia will face Lehigh Friday night, before playing Elon and UNC-Greensboro Saturday.
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