Virginia women’s volleyball lost to Virginia Tech in four sets (25-27, 25-10, 25-18, 25-21) on Wednesday evening. The Cavaliers hosted the Hokies for the Commonwealth Clash, this match worth half a point in the continuing showdown between the two in-state rivals.
The Cavaliers started off strong, leading in the first set with a 4-0 run, capped off with a block by redshirt sophomore Kat Young. Virginia was leading 20-16 when Virginia Tech made a comeback, taking a 21-20 lead. Virginia stayed in the game, tying and trading points with the Hokies, before finally closing the first set with a kill by junior Harley Sebastian at 27-25.
The second set went to the Hokies, as #14 Ester Talamazzi went on a serving streak, taking the Cavaliers to 4-18, with four straight aces. Talamazzi sent her next serve out of bounds giving the Cavaliers a shot at a comeback. The Cavaliers service was short and they trailed 5-19. Another short service by Young dropped the second set, 10-25.
The third set also went to Virginia Tech, 25-18, the Hokies gaining momentum as the teams entered the fourth and final set.
In the last set, a Cavalier kill got Virginia an early lead (9-3) at the first timeout of the set. The Hokies caught up at 10-11 and continued to hold a one-point lead for most of the set. Virginia Tech then pulled away, leading 21-17. The Cavaliers made a comeback, trailing by 4 when a touch on the block went out of bounds, setting up the Hokies for game point at 24-20. The Cavaliers played hard, but Virginia Tech delivered the final kill straight to the floor, the Hokies closing the last set and taking the match.
Though Virginia played strong, the Hokies led in hits (339-163), service aces (7-3), blocks (7.0-6.0) and digs (49-44). The score for the Clash is now Virginia 1.0 and Virginia Tech .5. The next Cavalier-Hokie matchup on November 22nd in Blacksburg will also be worth half a point in the Commonwealth Clash, giving the Cavaliers a chance at a comeback. Virginia will look to rebound at Pittsburgh this Friday, September 29th.
