For the second time this weekend, Virginia headed into John Paul Jones Arena, this time to take on California. The Cavaliers (7-5, 0-2 ACC) lost to the Golden Bears (5-7, 2-0 ACC) in four sets, 25-19, 25-16, 17-25, 25-15, tacking on not only another loss at JPJ this season, but their second loss in two conference games after falling Saturday to No. 3 Stanford.
Virginia got things started early in the first set, with senior middle blocker Kate Dean helping the Cavaliers pick up three of their first five points. However, what looked like a hot start began to simmer down when California went on a six-point scoring run.
Now down 14-7, Virginia reevaluated, and its upperclassmen led the way. Junior middle blocker Lauryn Bowie joined Dean’s block party, combining for a total of six in addition to their three kills throughout the first set. Junior setter Hannah Scott’s five digs saved the Golden Bears from running away with it, but the Cavaliers still came up short, losing the first set 25-19.
The beginning of the second set left the attending fans with little to no hope, with California going up 10-2 with quick kills and many mistakes by Virginia. The Golden Bears controlled the narrative, remaining up by 10 for the majority of the set. By the time it was set point, the Cavaliers looked deflated, Coach Shannon Wells looked frustrated and the fans looked bored.
Going into the third set, an adjustment had to be made. On paper, Virginia was the better team — a better record, a higher hitting percentage, stronger blocking and more aces. Yet, California was making it look like it was in over its head.
“We just looked really chaotic out there and didn’t have someone to calm the chaos,” Wells said. “We weren’t playing very efficiently. We needed to slow down and see if we could produce points.”
Although it did not look like it at first, an adjustment was definitely made when the Cavaliers took the lead for the first time since the first set at 9-8. Sophomore setter Zoey Dood found her groove, too, with back-to-back kills, extending the Cavalier lead to 13-8.
Virginia began to run away with the set, with freshman outside hitter Reagan Ennist having two electric kills to fire up the crowd. Just a few away from set point, it became clear that the Cavaliers had their mojo back and California was losing theirs. An attack error ended the set 25-17.
“[Our mentality was] ‘Let’s just have fun this set, and let’s see what we can do,’” Dood said. “And we won that set. And then the fourth set, we wanted to bring the same energy.”
The fourth set was similar to a heavyweight fight, with both sides throwing their best offensive punches. Ennist kept up the kills and Dean kept up the blocks, but at some point along the way, California just began to hit harder, confusing the Virginia defense. The set ended 25-15 to the Golden Bears, resulting in a loss for the Cavaliers yet again.
“Right now with where we're at, it doesn’t matter who we play,” Wells said. “We can play Boston College, we can play Nebraska — we just have to play better.”
The idea of playing better will be put to the test Friday when Virginia returns to action, this time at the Aquatic & Fitness Center at 7 p.m. against Boston College.
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