Virginia hosted two important ACC matches this weekend at the Aquatic & Fitness Center, losing to both Georgia Tech and Clemson. The Cavaliers (10-12, 3-9 ACC) extended their losing streak to four straight games, falling to the Yellow Jackets (12-9, 7-5 ACC) in five sets Friday. Then, Virginia struggled to keep up Sunday in what was expected to be an even match against the Tigers (14-10, 2-10 ACC), who were at the bottom of the ACC standings entering the match. However, the Cavaliers fell 3-1 to Clemson in a disappointing loss.
The remainder of Virginia’s season is ACC play, and the Cavaliers are sitting quite close to the bottom of the conference standings. While it features some serious competition — including No. 8 Louisville and No. 15 Louisville, both of whom Virginia lost to — the Cavaliers are also struggling against less competitive teams like the Tigers. While it might be overly optimistic to hope Virginia can still return to the success it saw last year, the Cavaliers are still in need of a turnaround so they can end their season on a higher note.
Virginia played a close match against Georgia Tech Friday, losing 24-26, 23-25, 25-20, 5-15. Notably, senior middle blocker Jasmine Robinson tallied a career-high 11 blocks and eight kills. Robinson’s total was the most blocks in one match since 2023.
Freshman outside hitter Reagan Ennist also led the night offensively with 13 kills. Senior and junior outside hitters Kadynce Booth and Lauryn Bowie each recorded 10 kills as well. Sophomore right setter Becca Wight also returned after being sidelined from an injury for the month and recorded eight kills. Generally, Virginia saw a strong offensive output from its typical players. Combined with Robinson’s record-breaking performance, the match was determined in the fifth set.
Virginia lost the first two sets in close fashion, refocusing in the third set to pull ahead of the Yellow Jackets by 11 points, the largest margin of the night. The Cavaliers notched five consecutive points early on and later went on a seven-point run featuring two kills and three blocks from Robinson.
This momentum carried Virginia into its second set win of the night, as it took an early 10-4 lead. While Georgia Tech rallied back within one point of the Cavaliers during the tail end of the set, Virginia scored the final four points of the set and kept its hopes of a reverse sweep alive.
However, the Cavaliers’ momentum vanished through the fifth and final set. The Yellow Jackets held a lead for all but one tied score and scored 10 of the final 12 points of the set.
Virginia showed grit and strong play against Georgia Tech, and while the loss hurts, it was still a strong showing against the Yellowjackets, who sit just above the middle of the ACC standings. Sunday, however, the Cavaliers seemed to fall apart against a less formidable opponent considering Clemson’s ranking in the ACC.
Virginia started off hot, with Robinson and Ennist leading the way early on. Junior defensive specialist Katie Barrier also held the defense well — she led the overall night defensively with 19 digs. Despite the Tigers challenging the Cavaliers at multiple points in the set, senior outside hitter Kadynce Boothe took off midway through the set with six kills. Boothe ended the match second in kills behind Ennist’s 17. While these players kept Virginia ahead, the Cavaliers also capitalized off of Clemson’s mistakes and won the first set 25-22.
After the first set, the Tigers’ offense took off. In the second set, Clemson scored the first three points. Virginia steadily kept them within reach for much of the set, but was ultimately unable to string together enough consecutive points to make up for the deficit Clemson created early on.
Errors also pushed the Tigers further out of reach as Virginia tallied seven service errors. While the Cavaliers hoped to rally back as the set closed, scoring three consecutive times after the first set point, it was not enough. Virginia fell in the second set 20-25.
The third set featured a back-and-forth battle, with three tied scores occurring within the first 11 points of the set. Ennist notched seven kills on the set as Wight tallied four as well. Two kills in a row from the duo even forced a Clemson timeout at 13-10, but the Tigers strung together three consecutive points before the set closed out to seal the deal 25-19.
Virginia valiantly challenged Clemson in the fourth set, hoping to push it to a fifth and turn the match around. The Cavaliers held onto a 10-6 lead following a four-point run featuring kills from Ennist and Robinson, forcing the Tigers to take a timeout. Wight also entered the mix with two kills in part of a fight to keep Virginia’s lead. The Cavaliers even extended their lead to 22-17, their energy high entering the tail end of the set. However, the Tigers rallied back with a six-point run, tying the score at 22.
With the match on the line, both teams kept each other within reach. Two blocks from senior middle blocker Kate Dean brought Virginia to two set points. But as the set extended, with Virginia fans out of their seats, the Cavaliers just could not hold on. The Tigers scored the final three points of the game, closing the fourth set out 28-26.
Virginia’s performance Sunday forces some reflection on where the program is headed after a strong 2024-25 season. While there were good performances from a handful of Virginia players, the Cavaliers are struggling to pull together team wins against a large variety of teams in and outside of the ACC. Something else needs to fall into place so that Virginia can end its season in at least a stronger position than it is in right now.
Things will not get easier next time, though. Next, Virginia will travel to play No. 7 SMU at 8 p.m. Sunday.
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