The Virginia volleyball team opened its season with a 3-0 sweep at the Temple Invitational in Philadelphia this past weekend. Friday, the Cavaliers beat Valparaiso 3-1 to start the weekend.
The Virginia volleyball team will kick off its season this weekend when the squad travels to Philadelphia to take part in the Temple Invitational.
With more than one-third of the Virginia volleyball lineup new to Grounds, coach Lee Maes has clearly had a busy preseason. "Preseason's been great," Maes said.
[caption id="attachment_32190" align="alignleft" width="207" caption="Senior libero Brittani Rendina will try to support Virginia's defense against the Hokies in Blacksburg on Wednesday.
[caption id="attachment_32027" align="alignleft" width="199" caption="Senior outside hitter Lauren Dickson was one of three Cavaliers honored before the squad's final home match of the year.
[caption id="attachment_31872" align="alignleft" width="213" caption=""I want nothing more than to beat Duke for our seniors," junior defensive specialist A.J.
[caption id="attachment_31508" align="alignleft" width="204" caption="Senior libero Brittani Rendina led Virginia with 34 digs against Miami - the second-highest match total of her career.
[caption id="attachment_31459" align="alignleft" width="199" caption="Sophomore outside hitter Simone Asque was named ACC Player of the Week after matching her career-high 27 kills while adding a season-best 16 digs against Boston College last weekend.
Hoping to turn its season around after a two-loss weekend, the Virginia women's volleyball team travels this weekend to College Park, Md.
The Virginia volleyball team rounded out another weekend of conference play with two losses to Clemson Friday night and Georgia Tech Saturday. Perhaps a rash of injuries that held back three of the team's most important players can partially explain Virginia's (7-13, 2-7 ACC) latest losses. "We already had two girls who we knew weren't going to be playing in the beginning, and then Lauren [Dickson]'s injury happened on Tuesday," sophomore middle hitter Tess Udall said. Practicing with a new lineup less than a week before the weekend proved difficult for the Cavaliers.
Hoping to improve its disappointing conference record, the Virginia women's volleyball team hosts Clemson and Georgia Tech in Charlottesville this weekend, rounding out a four-game homestand at Memorial Gym. As inconsistent play haunts Virginia (7-11, 2-5 ACC), playing at its home court will hopefully give the team momentum. "It's actually unreal the amount of adversity our team's had to deal with this year," senior defensive specialist Brittani Rendina said.
Although the Virginia volleyball team may be struggling to find consistency in execution, focus and effort, one aspect of the program that will never falter is Memorial Gymnasium. The Cavaliers played on their beloved home court from 1979 until 1998, when renovations began because of a hefty $1.5 million donation.
[caption id="attachment_30863" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Sophomore outside hitter Simone Asque totaled 22 kills in the two weekend matches.
[caption id="attachment_30792" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Senior libero Brittani Rendina ranks third on the Cavaliers in digs with 140 this season.
[caption id="attachment_30720" align="alignleft" width="193" caption="Senior outside hitter Lauren Dickson leads the Cavaliers in kills, totaling 165 in 49 sets played.
[caption id="attachment_30628" align="alignleft" width="181" caption="Now in his second season as Virginia's coach, Lee Maes has always encouraged his players to follow three basic rules: continually strive to improve, treat each opponent the same regardless of ranking and always stay in the present.
[caption id="attachment_30507" align="alignleft" width="180" caption="Senior outside hitter Tara Hester has seen playing time in 19 sets so far this season.
[caption id="attachment_30378" align="alignleft" width="232" caption="Virginia freshman middle hitter Tobi Farrar's seven kills were not enough against Villanova, as the Cavaliers fell in straight sets to the Wildcats Saturday.
Coming off a momentous weekend in Nebraska, the Virginia volleyball team returns to Memorial Gym to start the two-day Marriott Cavalier Invitational, which will feature Albany, Villanova and in-state rival Virginia Tech. At the Ameritas Players Challenge in Lincoln, Neb.
