The Virginia volleyball team takes part in the Marriott Cavalier Classic this weekend, battling Virginia Tech and Liberty for in-state supremacy.
The Cavaliers (4-5, 0-0 ACC) come off a trip to Richmond last weekend, when they squared off with Virginia Commonwealth, Georgetown and Appalachian State. The three matches gave the young squad ample opportunity to develop as a team.
Against Virginia Commonwealth, the Cavaliers fell 3-2 in a taut match that included a furious rally after trailing 7-1 in the deciding fifth set. Virginia showed its resolve, rallying to tie the score before eventually losing 15-13.
“Down 7-1 in the fifth game with no timeouts left, they were basically on their own, and they got back to 11-11,” coach Dennis Hohenshelt said of his players. “There’s a fight in them they hadn’t seen before, so that’s a big positive.”
The Cavaliers lost their second match of the tournament to the Hoyas by a deceiving 3-0 score in a match that was far more even than the lopsided score indicates. Virginia limited Georgetown’s hitting to a rate of 22.3 percent and committed four fewer attacking errors than the Hoyas.
In the weekend’s final match, the Cavaliers shrugged off their two earlier losses to sweep Appalachian State 3-0. The squad recorded a season-high 12.0 blocks, including seven block assists by sophomore middle Morgan Blair. Virginia’s dominant defensive performance ensured it would not return home empty-handed.
“We definitely were blocking a lot more balls and running more plays,” senior setter Rachel Gray said. “Serving was really good too. We served tough, and that helped us a lot.”
Though the Cavaliers’ record does not yet reflect the progress the squad has made, players believe they are visibly showing signs of taking steps in the right direction on both sides of the ball.
“Our hitters are getting more aggressive, as well with the blocking,” junior captain Emily Rottman said. “We’re making great blocking moves, which makes our defense better. Everything is just coming together, week by week.”
The team needs to keep improving if it hopes to come away with two wins this weekend. Virginia Tech (6-3, 0-0 ACC) won five of its last six matches, and Liberty (8-2, 0-0 Big South) suffered only its second loss of the season against Marshall last Saturday. Each squad has qualified for the NCAA Tournament in one of the last two seasons.
The Cavaliers have dominated the all-time series against Liberty 29-2, but their advantage against Virginia Tech is significantly smaller, with a record of 30-26.
Few challenges bring as much excitement to Cavalier players and fans as facing the Hokies within the friendly confines of Memorial Gym. The rivalry’s history is rife with come-from-behind wins and down-to-the-wire matches. Three of the last four meetings between the teams have gone to five sets.
“Virginia Tech is big and physical, where we want to get to in terms of all positions,” Hohenshelt said. “When we get chances to convert offensively, we’ve got to [capitalize].”
Despite close outcomes in recent seasons, the Hokies currently hold a five-match winning streak in the series, a trend the Virginia players hope to end.
“We’re pumped for the Virginia Tech match, because we know every time we play them there’s so much emotion since they’re a huge rival,” Rottman said. “Obviously, our goal is to win, and to do that we’re going to just have to focus the whole match.”
In his first year as coach, Hohenshelt is new to the intensity of Virginia-Virginia Tech matchups. But he has already learned to embrace the rivalry.
“I’m excited, because it’s our rival,” Hohenshelt said. Those are always big matches. Hopefully we’re going to have a large crowd, the kids are going to come out and support us and we’re going need them, because we’re going to need some momentum to beat Virginia Tech. They’re very good, and we’re going to have to be at our best to beat them.”
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