Volleyball: Hoos take five-setter against Columbia to conclude Big Apple Tourney

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Virginia first-year outside hitter Lauryn Bowie tallied 20 kills and hit .514 to steer the Cavaliers to a five-set comeback victory over Columbia at Levien Gymnasium Saturday afternoon. With the win, Virginia improved to 2-0 at Columbia’s Big Apple Tournament.

Bowie’s 20 kills are the most by a UVA first-year player since Sarah Billiard did so against Appalachian State in 2017. 

Setter Ashley Le tallied a career-high 50 assists, the most by a UVA player since 2018. Like Bowie, Abby Tadder (12), Ciera Hecht (11) and Veresia Yon (10) also reached double-digit kills. 

For the weekend, the Cavaliers (3-1) passed .981 after suffering only three reception errors on 158 opponent serves.

Set 1: Columbia 25, Virginia 22
Both teams hit above .300 in the opening set. UVA led by as many as six points, including 16-10, before the Lions (0-2) fired off five unanswered points to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to one. Columbia eventually secured its first lead of the day, 21-20, before both teams were knotted, 22-22. The Lions scored the last three points to close out the set. Tadder tallied five kills and hit .375 in the opening frame. 

Set 2: Virginia 25, Columbia 20
The Cavaliers dominated set No. 2 from nearly start to finish. UVA doubled up the Lions 16-8 before eventually leading by as many as nine (19-10). Kate Johnson (2), Heyli Velasquez (2) and Le (1) combined for five service aces in set No. 2. Virginia also posted four blocks in the set.

Set 3:  Columbia 25, Virginia 23
Coming out of the intermission, both teams were neck-and-neck midway through the third before Columbia embarked on a 4-0 run to secure an 18-14 lead. The Lions reached set point [24-20], but the Hoos did not go away quietly. Setter Regan Trueblood checked into the match and UVA scored three straight points to cut the Lions’ lead to just one, but a UVA service error ended the set in Columbia’s favor. Virginia had five blocks in game No. 3

Set 4: Virginia 25, Columbia 13
The Hoos cruised to a fourth set victory to stay afloat after registering 18 kills in the frame in contrast to Columbia’s seven. UVA hit just over .400 in game No. 4. The Cavaliers led by as many as 10 points in the fourth before closing out the frame with three straight points, including back-to-back blocks by Yon.

Set 5: Virginia 15, Columbia 5
Virginia closed out the match on a 12-1 run with the help of four service aces – two each from Johnson and Hecht. On the final play, Bowie fittingly put down a free ball to seal the match, collecting her 20th kill in the process.

NOTES

• With the win, Virginia improved to 3-0 in the all-time series.
• With the win, Virginia improved to 1-1 in five-set matches this season and 2-0 in matches away from Memorial Gymnasium.
• Lauryn Bowie’s 20 kills are the most by a UVA first-year player since Sarah Billiard’s 20 at Appalachian State on Sept. 2, 2017.
• Ashley’s career-high 50 assists are the most by a UVA player in a single match since 2018.

UP NEXT

The Cavaliers return home on Tuesday for a midweek matchup against Old Dominion. First serve from Memorial Gymnasium is set for 6 p.m. on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX).