After a 3-1 win against William & Mary Friday evening, Virginia entered day two of the VCU Invitational ready to pick up right where it left off. Taking the court against their host, the Cavaliers (3-1, 0-0 ACC) annihilated the Rams (1-3, 0-0 A-10) in straight sets, 25-13, 25-17, 25-22.
Though the final score would make it seem as though the first set was Virginia’s from the beginning, it actually started off as a game of back and forth. VCU was able to stick close to the Cavaliers due to attack errors, the score at one point being 9-8. However, a series of kills by third-year right side hitter Becca Wight and third-year outside hitter Reese Wuebker swung the momentum in Virginia’s favor.
Virginia kept it going as everyone on the team got involved. Second-year outside hitter Reagan Ennist’s back-to-back kills really established the set’s trajectory, putting the Cavaliers up 18-11 and forcing the Rams to call a timeout. The end of the set became a talent show for fourth-year middle blocker Emily Fowler, as she notched three of the last six kills. The final was 25-13 and Virginia was amped — though that excitement did not initially translate to the next set.
Out the gate, the Rams were in control, going up 3-1. At 8-4, the Cavaliers had some serious work to do to avoid dropping the set in similar fashion to VCU’s first-set loss. As usual, when the moment called for it, Ennist and second-year right side hitter Caroline Lang delivered for Virginia, helping bring them back from their deficit.
Tied at 11-11, fourth-year outside hitter Lauryn Bowie got the kill to put the Cavaliers up 12-11, their first lead all set. From then and out, Virginia was in full control, reminding the Rams of what happened in the first set. The set ended in a pair of kills by Ennist, followed by a service ace from Wuebker, the final being 25-17.
The final set proved to be the most competitive, both teams playing at their best — VCU was desperately trying to find a way to stay in the match while the Cavaliers were trying to produce a shut-out.
At one point, it looked as though Virginia had fully pulled away at 19-13, but the Rams clawed their way back to make it 23-20. The last few points were intense and contested — the Cavaliers called a timeout before the final serve. In perfect motion, Ennist got the kill, finalizing the set at 25-22 and the match at 3-0.
The match against VCU showed Virginia’s potential. With big hitters such as Ennist and Wuebker, the Cavaliers’ offense constantly has the opportunity to get ahead early or work its way back, just like they were able to today. After three straight wins, Virginia is in a solid position ahead of a more challenging stretch of the schedule.
The Cavaliers return home to the Aquatics & Fitness Center Wednesday at 6 p.m. for the Shriners Hospitals for Children’s Showdown at the Net. There, Virginia will take on Alabama.
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