Virginia Withstands Mercer in Five Sets

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia volleyball crew (8-2) received its second match of the day in Memorial Gymnasium Friday night time after defeating Mercer (4-7), 25-21, 12-25, 25-17, 21-25, 15-12, within the first-ever assembly between the 2 groups. With the win, the Cavaliers improved to 8-2 total, which ties for this system’s finest begin by way of its first 10 matches since 2004.

Grace Turner posted a match-high 17 kills on 41 swings and recorded eight digs.

UVA defeated East Carolina, 3-1, earlier within the day in its first of three matches this weekend (Sept. 16-17).

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Virginia trailed 8-3 to open set No. 1 and 14-10 in a while. After a gradual begin, the Cavaliers grasped their first lead of the sport, 17-16, on a high-bouncing kill by Abby Tadder (7 kills, 3 blocks). The set noticed its fifth tied rating at 21-21, however the Cavaliers took benefit of three Mercer errors and one other kill by Tadder to win the ultimate 4 factors and declare the set, 25-21. Tadder put down 4 of the 5 balls despatched her manner and Turner posted 4 kills on eight swings. Libero Madison Morey registered seven of her 19 complete digs within the opening set.
• The Bears dominated the second set, successful 25-12, after UVA by no means led all through the body. The Cavaliers hit -.097 after recording 9 kills overshadowed by 12 assault errors. The Bears totaled 12 kills with no assault errors to hit .444 and registered six complete blocks en path to night the rating, 1-1.
• A flurry of UVA scoring runs gave the Hoos an 18-9 lead towards the top of the third. The Bears made issues attention-grabbing after scoring 5 straight to chop the UVA result in 18-14, however in the end the Cavaliers pulled away, 25-17. All 24 Virginia serves landed in bounds, together with one ace, and as soon as once more Morey registered seven digs within the body. GG Carvacho (7 kills, 2 blocks) additionally gave the Cavaliers a lift, coming off the bench and placing down a team-best 4 kills in sport No. 3.
• After UVA led for almost all of the fourth, Mercer scored three straight factors to safe a 21-20 benefit, additionally its first lead of the set. A kill by Carvacho tied the sport, 21-21, however the Bears scored 4 straight to win the fourth, 25-21, and power the Cavaliers into their fifth five-set contest of the season. Mercer hit .226 in sport No. 4 and had three service aces, whereas UVA hit simply .138 and solely recorded one ace.
• After a sloppy finish to the fourth, the Cavaliers regained momentum early within the fifth by leaping out to a 10-4 lead due to a mixed three aces from UVA setters Gabby Easton (24 assists) and Ashley Le (18 assists). To make issues worse for the Bears, Mercer served three balls into the online within the last body. UVA clung to a 13-9 lead earlier than the Bears put down a kill and blocked Turner on back-to-back factors to chop the Virginia result in 13-12. Nevertheless, the Cavaliers scored the following two factors to shut out the set, 15-12, and match, 3-2.

NOTES

• With the win, Virginia tied for its finest begin to a season by way of its first 10 matches since 2004.
• With the win, the Cavaliers received the first-ever assembly UVA and Mercer.
• With the win, UVA improved to 4-1 in five-set matches and 3-1 in Mem Health club this season.
• For the fifth consecutive match, Grace Turner posted double-digit kills, ending Friday’s nightcap with a match-high 17 kills. 

UP NEXT
Virginia continues match play on Saturday (Sept. 17) when it hosts Maryland (8-2) at 3 p.m. in Mem Health club. Saturday’s match finale is slated to stream on ACCNX. East Carolina (4-7) and Mercer (4-7) are set to sq. off at midday on Saturday.