In a pre-Thanksgiving showdown, Virginia headed to the Aquatic Fitness Center to play its final home match of the season against No. 19 North Carolina. What the Cavaliers (12-17, 5-14 ACC) hoped would be an early holiday treat quickly turned into a holiday letdown as they lost to the Tar Heels (21-7, 14-5 ACC) in straight sets, 25-17, 28-26, 25-19.
North Carolina wasted no time establishing control of the first set, building a comfortable lead early. Tar Heel sophomore outside hitter Laynie Smith opened the first set by going a perfect 6-6 on attacks, recording six kills without an error.
North Carolina’s early control was not simply a result of the Tar Heels’ talent, but also Virginia’s mistakes. Freshman outside hitter Reagan Ennist started the set off cold, a rarity for her. Ennist’s hits were mistimed or just a little bit off, giving North Carolina a few of its initial points.
Down 11-7, the Cavaliers called a timeout in an attempt to regroup, and for a second, it looked like they did. Virginia went on a 3-0 scoring run, drawing back within one.
But the gap quickly grew again as the Tar Heels slammed the door. Virginia showed flashes of resistance, but the consistency of the North Carolina arms pushed the lead out to as many as ten points. On an error by the Cavalier defense, the Tar Heels ultimately took the first set 25-17.
After a rough first set, Virginia entered the second set in need of a reset, and early on, it looked like that might occur. The brief surges of energy seen at the end of the first set turned into a burst of momentum as sophomore setter Zoey Dood recorded her first ace of the match. Senior outside hitter Kadynce Boothe notched a few kills, finally getting into her groove.
At 7-2, the Cavaliers held their biggest lead of the match. North Carolina looked stunned on the other side. But the Tar Heels began to work their way back, going on a scoring run that brought the score to 7-5. Yet Virginia remained poised, hanging on to a two-point lead throughout the majority of the set, even reaching a four-point lead at the media timeout.
However, a nightmare began to brew for the Cavaliers as the Tar Heels made a slow but steady comeback. Before they knew it, the set was tied at 18, and soon after North Carolina led 21-18. But Virginia fought back, tying the set again at 22.
The remainder of the set was back and forth as the Cavaliers found a way to extend the set past 25, but the Tar Heels ultimately took it at 28-26, a heartbreaking loss in a set that looked like it was Virginia’s to take.
Heading into set three, all the Cavaliers wanted was to keep the match alive and force a fourth set. They were unable to hold on. North Carolina quickly went up 5-1 in the set, causing Virginia to take a timeout early. Out of the timeout, it looked as if Coach Shannon Wells’ squad was ready to go. Dood led the charge with an explosive kill to give the Cavaliers a shot of momentum.
Despite keeping the score close for the majority of the set, the Tar Heels consistently blocked everything the Cavaliers hit at them, making it hard for Virginia to take the lead. The Cavaliers held off the set point for a while, but North Carolina ultimately prevailed, winning the final set 25-19.
Losing in straight sets is definitely a tough way to fall in the season’s final home match, especially considering how close Virginia was to taking the second set — but the outcome is not surprising. Throughout the entirety of the season, the Cavaliers have always been so close, yet so far. It’s the same story Virginia has endured all year.
The Cavaliers return to action Saturday at 1 p.m. against Boston College in their final chance to end the season on a good note.
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