The Virginia women’s volleyball team flew across the country this weekend for a two-match California swing, hoping to find its footing in a long stretch of ACC play. Instead, the Cavaliers (5-8, 1-3 ACC) left the West Coast on shakier ground. Across seven sets against California and Stanford, Virginia won just one.
That lone set came Friday against California (12-3, 2-2 ACC), when Virginia briefly pushed back before dropping the match 3-1. Stanford (9-5, 2-2 ACC) then swept the Cavaliers in three sets, sending them home at 5-8 overall and 1-3 in conference play. Since Sept. 27, Virginia has claimed only that single set.
Virginia had a chance to seize control early against California, building a 5-4 lead in the first set. The Golden Bears then rattled off six straight points to go up 10-5. Virginia spent the rest of the set playing from behind and never caught up.
The second set slipped narrowly out of the Cavaliers’ grasp. Virginia outhit California .267 to .188 and even led 21-20, but the Golden Bears answered with a 3-0 run and closed out the set 25-22.
Facing a potential sweep, Virginia finally capitalized on a competitive third set. Third year outside hitter Sarah Brodner helped the Cavaliers find the control they had lacked in the first two sets.
Virginia’s offense hit its low point in the fourth set. After hitting at least .229 in each of the first three sets, the Cavaliers managed nine kills against seven attack errors for a .059 hitting percentage. California, meanwhile, tallied 15 kills and hit .256.
Late in the set, three consecutive Golden Bear points gave Cal a 19-16 lead. Virginia could not close the gap, dropping the set and the match.
After salvaging just one set in Berkeley, the Cavaliers faced their first ranked opponent of the season in then-No. 13 Stanford.
The Cardinal seized the first set early with a 7-0 run and cruised to a 25-12 win.
The second set proved far more competitive. Neither team gave an inch as the score stayed tied through 22-22. Once again, Stanford found another run at the crucial moment and took the set 25-23.
Those two set-defining runs handed Stanford all the momentum it needed. Virginia battled to break it in the third set, but the Cardinal broke open a 7-7 tie with an 8-3 run and closed out the sweep, 25-13.
It was a rough California trip for the Cavaliers, who are still battling lingering injuries from earlier in the season. Once again, that meant other players had to step up. Against the Golden Bears, first-year outside hitter Ella Brodner made her first career start and shined, finishing with season highs in 12 kills, eight digs and three blocks.
The Cavaliers will try to build on Brodner’s performance Friday when they host Duke at Memorial Gymnasium in their ACC home opener, looking to string together more than one set for the first time since late September.
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