After a win in enemy territory Wednesday, Sunday was Virginia’s turn to host Virginia Tech at John Paul Jones Arena in the latest iteration of the Commonwealth Clash. The Cavaliers (10-8, 3-5 ACC) battled back and forth with the rival Hokies (9-10, 1-7 ACC), coming out victorious in three sets, 25-19, 25-21, 25-20.
The Cavaliers’ offense looked slow at the beginning of the first set, allowing the Hokies to go on a five-point run. However, Virginia quickly made it clear that it came to play, with the help of freshman and senior outside hitters Reagan Ennist and Kadynce Boothe. The freshman-senior duo dominated on the court, combining for nine kills and four digs. The Cavaliers won the set 25-19, fully charged and ready to go.
“It’s just the trust we have in each other,” Ennist said. “Whether you’re up in the front row and you know that you have somebody covering behind you, it’s just really good to have trust with every single girl on the team.”
Virginia carried this momentum into the second set, producing big points early, but it would not be the Commonwealth Clash without Virginia Tech putting up a fight. The set stayed within a few points, both teams picking up no more than a two-point lead before the other tied it again. Senior middle blocker Jasmine Robinson, a former Hokie, helped keep the Cavaliers within reach with two huge blocks on defense, while junior right side hitter Lauryn Bowie controlled the offense with three kills.
At 22-21 Virginia, fans were on their feet cheering as loud as possible. With the might of the crowd behind them, the Cavaliers broke away, thanks to yet another electric kill by Ennist. Virginia pulled out a win in the second set, 25-21, looking to end the match in the third.
“We couldn’t rely on points from the other team’s errors,” Coach Shannon Wells said. “I think we were in the mentality that we have to score points, and we did.”
The third set was one of desperation for Virginia Tech, putting it all on the line to extend the match. Tied at 14, the Cavaliers needed to create some distance — and they did just that. Running away with the set, Virginia won 25-20, its first victory on the JPJ stage this season.
“It feels really good,” Wells said. “I think the way we came out and played and really competed — I would say that’s probably the best we’ve played all year.”
Beyond the traditional stakes of the rivalry rematch, this win over the Hokies was crucial for the Cavaliers’ morale. Going into the match, Virginia was 2-5 in the ACC and had not won back-to-back conference matches yet. Pulling off two impressive wins against a rival is more than a boost of confidence for the Cavaliers — it is a step in the right direction for the remainder of ACC play.
The Cavaliers return to action Friday for a road game at Florida State. Virginia will aim to keep its momentum going and secure another conference win.
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