Sept. 2, 1997

Virginia Volleyball Prepares for New Mexico Tournament

  • Current Virginia Record: 3-1
  • ACC Record: 0-0
  • Virginia Record Week Ending 8/31: 3-1 
   
Results From Week Ending August 31
Date    Opponent            Location                Result  Game Scores                         Record (ACC)
8/29    Delaware*           Charlottesville, Va.    W,      3-0 15-4,15-4,15-3                  1-0
8/29    Liberty*            Charlottesville, Va.    W,      3-0 15-2, 15-9, 15-13               2-0
8/30    Coastal Carolina*   Charlottesville, Va     W,      3-1 7-15, 15-3, 15-6, 15-9          3-0
8/30    Illinois*           Charlottesville, Va.    L,      2-3 7-15, 15-7, 15-5, 13-15, 10-15  3-1
*-1997 Jefferson Cup

Cavalier Notes
Illinois ended UVa's one year run as the holder of its own Jefferson Cup. In 1996, Virginia defeated Marshall in the final game of the tournament to seize the title. This year, the Illini used a 5-0 run to steal the fourth game before winning the rally scoring fifth game, 15-10. The last team other to hold the Jefferson Cup other than Virginia was Wright State in 1995.

The seven wins within the Atlantic Coast Conference last season were the most ever by a Virginia team.

Last season, Virginia posted the highest team totals, for a season, in UVa history in five 'team' categories. Those were attack attempts (5,585), kills (2,103), kills per game (16.30), assists (1,844), and assists per game (14.30). Virginia also had their second-best season of all-time in digs (2,346) and digs per game (18.19).

With the loss of Whitney Casey, Nikki Lawson, Lindsay McNiel, and Rebecca Hogan, Virginia loses 24 percent of its kills, 25.5 percent of its attack attempts, 28.1 percent of its service aces, and 28.8 percent of its digs from last season.

Mary Frances Scott recorded the second-best assist of her short career in the loss to Illinois. Scott finished with 73 assists in the loss. Last season, Scott had a career-high 80 assists in as win at Duke. Incredibly, her 80 assists came in a four-game match. 

1997 Jefferson Cup Information
Final Standings     W   L   All-Tournament Team
Illinois            4   0   Melissa Bates, Illinois
Virginia            3   1   Cristy Chapman, Illinois
Coastal Carolina    1   3   Paula Prentice, Illinois
Delaware            1   3   Claire Folga, Virginia
Liberty             1   3   Amy Mitchell, Virginia
                            Jessica Parsons, Virginia, Emma Prouse, Coastal Carolina
JC Results: 9/29-Ill. d. UD, 3-0; CC d. LU, 3-1; UVa    
Kristen Merrill, Delaware d. UD, 3-0; Ill. d. CC, 3-0; UVa d. LU, 3-0; 9/30-UD  
Leanna Miller, Liberty d. CC, 3-2; Ill. d. LU, 3-0; UVa d. CC, 3-1; LU d. UD, 
3-0; Ill. d. UVa, 3-2.

The Week Ahead
Virginia heads for the Southwest as they will take part in the New Mexico Tournament in Albuquerque. The Cavaliers will battle the host school, Pepperdine, New Mexico, and Idaho State during the two-day event. But before hitting the airport, UVa first must jump on a bus for an in-state match at James Madison on Tuesday, September 2. 

Date    Opponent        Location            Series          Last Played     Site    Result / Score
9/2     James Madison   Harrisonburg, Va.   Tied,14-14      Oct, 8 1996     H       W, 3-0
9/5     Pepperdine      Albuquerque, N.M.   First Meeting   -               -       -
9/6     New Mexico      Albuquerque, N.M.   First Meeting   -               -       -
9/6     Idaho State     Albuquerque, N.M.   First Meeting   -               -       -