Volleyball: UVA defeats Quinnipiac, 3-1, to open Big Apple Tournament

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Three Cavaliers reached double-digit kills, Ashley Le tied her career high of 46 assists and Milan Gomillion recorded 18 digs in Virginia’s 3-1 victory Friday evening. It was the first of two scheduled matches at Columbia’s Big Apple Tournament, which is being held at Francis S. Levien Gymnasium.

Abby Tadder (15 kills, .462 Hit%), Lauryn Bowie (13 kills) and Veresia Yon (12 kills, .429 Hit%) led the effort for the Hoos (2-1) offensively. Led by Heyli Velasquez in serve-receive. Virginia’s passers successfully passed 76 of the Bobcats’ 78 total serves. Velasquez connected on all 21 QU serves sent her way.

After Virginia got off to a shaky start and dropped the first, the Cavaliers controlled the match the rest of the way en route to its first victory of the season away from Memorial Gymnasium. The Cavaliers successfully sided-out at least 50 percent of the time in sets 2-4.

Set 1: Quinnipiac 25, Virginia 22
The Bobcats took the opening set after UVA after the Cavaliers hit just .111 and suffered five service errors. Neither team led by more than three points throughout the first. The two teams were tied 19-19 before the Bobcats won six of the last nine points of the set. Tadder led all UVA players with four kills on eight swings after the first stanza.

Set 2: Virginia 25, Quinnipiac 21
Tallying just 10 kills in the first, the Cavaliers evened the match in the second after record 16 kills, including seven by Tadder. Virginia did not trail at any point during the second and a 5-0 run early on delivered their largest lead of game No. 2, 11-4. The Hoos stretched their lead to as much as nine, 19-10, after another unanswered UVA later in the frame. Tadder and fellow middle blocker Yon terminated four of the Cavaliers’ last four points with two each. Setter Le recorded 15 of her 46 total assists in the second.

Set 3: Virginia 25, Quinnipiac 14
The Cavaliers fired off seven straight points to close out the third with ease. UVA doubled up the Bobcats early on, 10-5, before QU signaled for time. Bowie ripped three kills amid the Hoos’ 7-0 run to close out the set. For the second straight set, UVA terminated 16 balls, and hit .341 while holding the Bobcats to just a .049 hitting percentage. 

Set 4: Virginia 25, Quinnipiac 22
Brooklyn Borum (nine kills) scored three of Virginia’s first four points of the fourth to help the Cavaliers keep their foot on the gas. UVA did not surrender the lead for the remainder of the match. Bowie posted six of her 13 kills in the final stanza while hitting .357, while Yon added two block solos and two block assists.

GAME NOTES

• UVA won the first-ever matchup between the two teams.
• The win marked UVA’s first away from Memorial Gymnasium this season.
• Ashley Le tied her career high in assists (46).

UP NEXT

The Cavaliers round out Big Apple Tournament action on Saturday, when they take on Columbia. First serve from Levein Gymnasium is set for noon on ESPN+.