After four straight losses, the Virginia volleyball team hopes to rebound this weekend as it returns home to host the Marriott Cavalier Classic.
The Cavaliers (5-4) are coming off a West Coast trip that handed them three losses in three days. Virginia failed to win a set against San Diego, Southern California or Long Beach State, all top-25 teams.
"It kind of seemed like this weekend, it all fell apart," sophomore middle hitter Jessica O'Shoney said.
Now back on their home turf, however, the Cavaliers are hoping they might have a chance at redemption, beginning ACC play Friday night against Virginia Tech. Last season, Virginia began conference play against Virginia Tech in the same tournament, coming out on top. The squad finished the season splitting 1-1 with the Hokies after losing in Blacksburg at the close of the season.
This time, though, Virginia Tech happens to be on fire coming into the tournament. The Hokies boast an 8-1 record, with their only loss being against the one ranked opponent they have faced this season, No. 14 Tennessee. Still, the Cavaliers have shown time and time again that they can triumph over their rivals, with a 30-24 all-time record against the Hokies.
"They are our in-state rivals, so I'm excited," Cushman said. "We're just going to work hard this week and get pumped up."
Virginia will then take on its last non-conference opponent in George Mason Saturday night. The Patriots possess a mediocre 4-6 record but are hungry to bounce back from a trying weekend during which they were swept by Rutgers, TCU and Princeton.
Against both of these in-state foes, the Cavaliers will have to attempt to forget their experience in the Golden State, when each of the three squads took turns rattling the relatively inexperienced Cavaliers.
"You have to have a short-term memory," senior defensive specialist A.J. Cushman said. "You have to take what you've learned and apply it."
This might prove especially difficult for the inexperienced Cavaliers, as the squad has six new players this year. Consequently, the team has struggled with finding the most efficient lineup, which has only worsened the lack of cohesion that has haunted Virginia during the past few weekends.
"We just don't have the level of consistency to do things well over time," coach Lee Maes said. "Right now we are hoping to find a group of individuals who can come together as one team and help each other when certain aspects of our game break down," Maes said.
The Cavaliers eagerly anticipate their return to the comforting confines of their home court, where they hope their weekend-long preparation will help weed out and compensate for any individual shortcomings.
"Everyone's going to do their best," O'Shoney said. "This week will really show who's putting in the work and who's putting in the effort to really make a difference," O'Shoney said.
As the weekend arrives, the Cavaliers will see if they really can begin conference play on a clean slate. First serve begins at 7 p.m. Friday against the Hokies.
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