Uncertainty has been a key theme for Virginia volleyball as it pushed through the preseason. With its typical playing facility under renovation, five starters graduating after last season and three transfers entering the scene, Cavalier fans have sat wondering about the 2025 season despite last year’s history-making run to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship.
After spending Friday to Sunday in Washington, D.C., though, one thing is certain — Virginia is picking up right where it left off, or even in a better position. The Cavaliers (3-0, 0-0 ACC) dominated Georgetown, Howard and George Washington this weekend, dropping just one set between the three matches.
Coach Shannon Wells talked about the team’s excitement after its first match of the weekend, against Georgetown, a 3-0 win with contributions across the board. Virginia is a young team, with only senior defensive specialist Kate Johnson having played with the team for four years. But even if the Cavaliers are still searching for leaders, they had no issue this weekend spreading the wealth to multiple players on the court.
“The only way we’re going to be successful is [if] everybody has to get some reps,” Wells said. “It was really exciting to get everybody in and get some playing time — it’s hard to pick lineups in our gym, and so to be able to showcase everybody today was a really big highlight for our program.”
Wells’ statement rang true in the following matches as well, with equally strong performances from a handful of players paving a path to dominant wins. Junior outside hitter Lauryn Bowie sparkled all weekend, particularly in Virginia’s win against the Hoyas (0-2, 0-1 Patriot League). Bowie led the team with nine kills and six blocks and later recorded seven kills against the Revolutionaries (0-2, 0-0 Atlantic 10).
Meanwhile, senior outside hitter Kaydynce Boothe also broke onto the scene against George Washington, recording a career-first double-double. Boothe and Bowie also recorded 12 and nine kills against Howard.
Dominance on the court was not left to these two returning star players, however. Sophomore right side hitter Becca Wight, who appeared in 21 matches last season, notched a career-high 13 kills against the Revolutionaries. She also tallied seven against the Bison (1-1, 0-0 MEAC). Junior defensive specialist Kate Barrier, a transfer from Tennessee, led the way all weekend for the Cavaliers’ and totaled 54 digs on the weekend.
In the Cavaliers’ season-opening win Friday against Georgetown, Virginia opened strong and did the same to close out its third set. They slowed down only slightly in the second set, a 29-27 win. The Hoyas reeled the Cavaliers in during this set, forcing defensive and service errors. But the Cavaliers refocused to take the set 25-17 to seal their first win.
Saturday, the Cavaliers began slowly and picked up momentum to hold off George Washington after dropping the first set by 25-18. Initially struggling to find an attacking rhythm, Virginia refocused to win the following three sets and hold off the Revolutionaries. The Cavaliers even trailed 7-0 in the third set but rallied back with efforts led by senior middle blocker Jasmine Robinson, a transfer from Virginia Tech.
Finally, Virginia defeated the Bison with two strong opening sets, followed by a close final set. The Cavaliers held off a five-point run from Howard late into the third set, led by Wight and senior outside hitter Vivian Miller, a transfer from Ole Miss. Miller recorded 11 total kills against the Bison, one of seven Virginia players to record a kill Sunday.
This weekend displayed the team’s ability to place responsibility on all of its players, no matter their NCAA experience or amount of time with Wells’ program. Leaders off the court will emerge with time, which will strengthen the team, Wells noted after the win against the Revolutionaries.
But, while promising, having a well-balanced team leading up to Virginia’s competitive ACC schedule is also necessary. With powerhouses such as No. 3 Pittsburgh, No. 4 Louisville and No. 6 Stanford, Virginia cannot afford to rely on just a few players — having multiple offensive and defensive threats is crucial.
The Cavaliers have just begun, but with a strong start heading into Thursday’s home match against VCU at 6 p.m., they have renewed the hope from last season — hope for their future and returning to a past era of standing with dominant teams across the NCAA.
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