Volleyball is a sport where no singular play or player usually shines. In such a high-scoring game, almost every point carries equal weight. While offensive hitters often bask in the limelight after electric kills, so too can defensive specialists with heroic dives to save the ball.
Sunday, Virginia volleyball challenged this characteristic in its 3-2 win against Syracuse in the Aquatic & Fitness Center, winning 16-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-22, 17-15. Freshman outside hitter Reagan Ennist was unstoppable the entire night, collecting 32 kills, establishing a program record for the Cavaliers (8-6, 1-3 ACC).
“What you see [now] is just a different person,” Coach Shannon Wells said of Ennist stepping up. “It’s a role that she loves … She wants to take the big swing. I’m just really proud of her for doing a lot of work off the court because she wasn’t in a great space three or four weeks ago.”
Ennist came out strong against the Orange (10-4, 2-2 ACC) after Virginia had struggled in its recent matches, dealing with injuries to key players including senior outside hitters Kadynce Boothe and Vivian Miller as well as sophomore right setter Becca Wight. All three did not play Sunday, but the Cavaliers battled as Ennist led the way through five tight sets.
Still, though the freshman sparkled and notched almost 60 percent of the kills Virginia had all day, she credited the success back to the team’s cohesion.
“Every time I go up to swing, I have everybody behind me saying, ‘Take a risk, because we're behind you,’” Ennist said. “It's fun to go out there and do things like that when you have people that support you through everything that you do.”
Ennist was indeed supported by a well-rounded defense. Four players totaled over 10 digs during the match, led by junior defensive specialist Katie Barrier. In a tough battle against the Orange, their presence was just as necessary as Ennist was throughout the match.
The Cavaliers began with a slow start in the opening set, struggling to return serves and attack quick hits from Syracuse early on. Unable to string together more than two consecutive points, Virginia fell 16-25.
However, during the second set, Virginia found its footing. Energizing kills from Ennist and senior middle blocker Kate Dean were exactly what the Cavaliers needed to bring the set to 17-18, forcing a Syracuse timeout. Ennist later sparkled with three points in a row through a kill and two service aces, while senior middle blocker Jasmine Robinson sealed the 25-22 win with a solo block.
The Cavaliers entered the third set settled, battling evenly with the Orange. A five-point run featuring a kill and two block assists from Robinson brought Virginia to a 11-9 lead. A battle ensued through the middle portion of the set, but the Cavaliers wavered as the set closed. Virginia scored only three of the final 10 points in the set, dropping it 25-23 to set up a crucial fourth set.
The fourth set mirrored the third. A notably gritty four-point run pushed the Cavaliers to a 20-17 lead, giving them an edge as the final plays of the set unfolded, and they held on to take a 25-22 victory.
The fifth and final set of the match brought dramatics, as Virginia went on a seven-point run. Ennist continued shining as sophomore setter Zoey Dood entered the mix as well with four assists and a kill during the run.
Fittingly, Ennist closed the match with back-to-back kills, lifting the Cavaliers to a 17-15 win despite struggling to maintain their rhythm after switching sides on the court midway through. The final two points from Ennist completed a record-breaking match from the freshman and brought Virginia its first ACC win of the season.
Despite a difficult start to conference play, Virginia displayed perseverance throughout Sunday’s matchup as it adjusted to injuries, lineup changes and a gritty Syracuse team. This will be incredibly necessary for the Cavaliers’ morale entering matches Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Notre Dame and Sunday at No. 6 Louisville.
“We definitely have opportunities to get better [before Louisville],” Wells said. “Hopefully we're a little bit healthier … We're gonna get some bodies back, and that can help us out a lot. So right now, we're just trying to get one percent better every day.”
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