Virginia opened ACC play this weekend, taking on Clemson and Georgia Tech to close out September. On Friday against the Tigers (6-7, 0-1 ACC), the Cavaliers (5-6, 1-1 ACC) went up 1-0 early, before stumbling in set two and three. Despite being down 2-1, Virginia was able to bounce back to win the match in five sets, starting off ACC play on a high.
However, that high was short-lived. Sunday afternoon, the Cavaliers were taken down in three straight sets by the Yellow Jackets (10-3, 2-0 ACC), losing the first and second sets 25-19, and the third set 25-16.
The first set was brutal for Virginia — the only time they had the lead was when they scored the first point of the match. At first, it seemed that the Cavaliers were going to be able to hang with Georgia Tech, as second-year outside hitter Reagan Ennist started the match off with a kill, but that did not last for long.
The Yellow Jackets came back swinging, serving up several kills to put them up 7-4 over Virginia — and from there, it seemed like they were just going to run with it. The set briefly narrowed at 11-8, but after a five-point run by Georgia Tech, it was clear that they were in full control. The set ended at 25-19, 13 of the Cavaliers’ 19 points from Yellow Jacket errors.
Set two presented the opportunity for Virginia to even the playing field, and at first, it looked like they just might. The Cavaliers quickly went up 4-1 through a series of kills and service aces thanks to fourth-year libero Meredith Reeg. But the Yellow Jackets responded, tying the set at 4-4.
From there on out, the set was highly contested, each team going point-for-point with one another. At 16-13, momentum was high for Virginia — all they had to do was finish, but Georgia Tech would not let them.
The Yellow Jackets clawed their way back in front, winning several hard-fought points. At 19-18, Georgia Tech created the distance they needed, ripping off a four-point run and ultimately finalizing the score at 25-19.
In a similar pattern to the second set, the Cavaliers got to work early in the third set, before falling behind towards the end. Fourth-year middle blocker Emily Fowler attempted to keep her team in the game, serving up three kills when Virginia needed it most, but the Yellow Jacket offense looked unstoppable.
Georgia Tech crushed any ambitions that the match could go to a fourth set relatively fast, at one point going up 20-14. It didn’t take much for the Yellow Jackets to get their final five points, as first-year right side hitter Alida Bennour picked up three of their last five. The set ended at 25-16, marking yet another sweep on the Cavaliers’ season.
Virginia primarily scored points when they were profiting off of the mistakes by Georgia Tech. And while getting points from the opponent’s errors in volleyball is highly common, the amount of times it happened for the Cavaliers in Sunday’s match also reflects an offensive stall.
Ultimately, starting off ACC play 1-1 is not a terrible beginning — but with a tough west coast stint ahead, a 2-0 start would have been cushioning. Virginia will head to Berkley, Calif., to take on the Golden Bears Friday evening at 10 p.m. EDT.
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