The Cavaliers came into Wednesday night’s Commonwealth Clash with a five-match losing streak. However, Virginia was able to continue its winning trend against in-state rival Virginia Tech. The Cavaliers took the first two sets and held off a late rally by the Hokies in the final set to take their ninth straight victory against the in-state program.
The Cavaliers defeated the Hokies in four sets Wednesday night at Memorial Gymnasium with scores of 25-19, 25-19, 22-25 and 25-23. This was the Cavaliers’ first win since Sept. 25, extending a five-year winning streak against the Hokies since 2022.
Virginia’s offense was led by third-year right side hitter Becca Wight, who recorded 11 kills and hit at .391. First-year outside hitter MaryGrace Gonyeau and fourth-year outside hitter Lauryn Bowie also each contributed 10 kills, and third-year outside hitter Reese Wuebker contributed nine kills, 11 digs and three service aces.
In the first set Virginia played competitively and went up 7-4 early. Junior outside hitter Destiny Walker and junior middle blocker Izzy Mishler from Virginia Tech responded with strong attacks, and Virginia Tech was able to tie it at 10-9. However Virginia started to pick up the pace with kills from second-year middle blocker Caroline Lang. Lang recorded four kills in the first set.
Virginia Tech stayed close, getting within one point at 16-15. However, Virginia pushed out in front as Wuebker contributed an ace and a kill to stretch the lead to 19-15. The Hokies opted to call a timeout at that point. Virginia held the lead throughout the rest of the set and Wight recorded the final kill to give the Cavaliers a 25-19 lead in the first set.
Virginia carried that momentum into the second set and immediately took a 5-0 lead due to strong service from Wuebker. Wuebker recorded two service aces in that first set and put the Cavaliers ahead early.
Wight continued to add to Virginia’s offense with two consecutive kills to take the lead to 12-7. Virginia continued to build a lead, and went up 20-13 early as their opponents were unable to keep up with the offense.
Virginia recorded 16 kills in the second set and recorded a .370 hitting percentage, which was the best hitting percentage for the Virginia offense throughout the night. Lang recorded the final kill for the Cavaliers and Virginia recorded a 25-19 win in the second set and jumped out to a commanding 2-0 lead.
Virginia Tech responded in the third set despite the loss. Virginia and Virginia Tech played competitively in the third set, and were tied at 9-9 after a few early points. After that, senior setter Camilla Brandalise recorded two consecutive service aces to give Virginia Tech a 11-9 lead.
Virginia briefly took the lead at 12-11, but Virginia Tech continued to attack with strong plays from senior right side hitter Frances Torres and Walker. Virginia Tech was able to build up a 21-17 lead.
The Cavaliers drew within two points at 22-24, but Walker recorded the final kill for Virginia Tech and gave the Hokies a 25-22 win in the third set. Virginia recorded a .156 hitting percentage in the third set and also recorded eight service errors, hindering the Cavaliers’ ability to keep up.
Virginia lost the opportunity to finish the match in three sets and faced another challenge in the fourth. Virginia Tech built an early lead of 10-6 and then extended it to 14-9. If that lead held, Virginia would have been forced into a fifth set.
The lead did not hold, as Virginia powered its way back into the set. Fourth-year middle blocker Emily Fowler contributed to Virginia’s comebacks through two blocking efforts as the Cavaliers managed to get within one point at 14-13. Gonyeau contributed to Virginia’s comeback with several kills. Virginia also managed to even the score at 18-18.
After the sides exchanged several points, Virginia managed to tie the set at 20-20 and eventually secured their first lead of the set on the ensuing point. Virginia scored a kill from Lang, Virginia Tech committed an error and then Wight recorded another kill to put Virginia ahead 23-20.
Virginia Tech did not fold quickly. Wuebker put Virginia ahead by two points at 24-22, but Virginia Tech continued to put pressure on Virginia with strong plays from Torres and Walker. The Hokies narrowed the deficit at 24-23, forcing Virginia to call a timeout.
Virginia Tech threatened to continue the game, but Bowie recorded the final kill to give Virginia a 25-23 lead in the fourth set and lock down a victory for the Cavaliers.
Virginia recorded a total of 55 kills throughout the match with a hitting percentage of .283 against Virginia Tech’s 48 kills and .218 hitting percentage. Walker recorded 16 kills for Virginia Tech, a career high for her, and Torres recorded a season-high 11 kills.
Virginia was able to end its losing streak but also continued its winning trend in the Commonwealth Clash. Before the match Virginia had won eight consecutive matches against Virginia Tech. In Blacksburg last year Virginia lost in a five-set reverse sweep. Virginia’s victory on Wednesday extended its winning streak to nine and also gave Virginia half a point in this year’s Commonwealth Clash standings.
Virginia will travel to Blacksburg Friday in an attempt to complete another sweep against its in-state rival. Virginia and Virginia Tech will meet again at Cassell Coliseum at 6 p.m. as the Cavaliers look to continue improving their record in ACC play.
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