University of Louisville
VIRGINIA (Camper Reunion) UofL Courtyard By Marriott Tournament
Volleyball Takes Opener with 3-1 Win Over Virginia
September 03, 2004 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 3, 2004
Bing Sun had 12 kills with four blocks and 10 digs to lead the University of Louisville to a 3-1 win over visiting Virginia in the first day of the U of L Courtyard by Marriott Tournament.
After dropping the first game, U of L took its home opener 29-31, 30-20, 30-28, 30-25. Virginia evens its record at 1-1.
"There are always so many unknowns in the first match of the season," said U of L head coach Leonid Yelin. "Making the transition from practice and scrimmages to a real opponent is something every team looks forward to and getting the first win under our belt will only build confidence early on."
In a tightly contested first set, Ana Yartseva and Bing Sun both had four kills but the team hit a combined .104. Neither team could gain a commanding lead before the Cavaliers finally inched ahead 28-27. Virginia's Sarah Kirkwood had a pair of kills to get to game point and then a Lindsey Osco kill sealed the 31-29 win.
"Neither team was hitting well, it was a matter of hanging tough and waiting for the team to acclimate itself to all the new personnel," said Yelin, who at times had as many as three freshmen on the floor.
U of L hitting came alive in the second game, when the Cardinals hit .417 with 18 kills on 36 attacks. Five blocks, four by junior Jennifer Hoffman, powered the Cardinals to a 23-20 lead. U of L then scored seven unanswered points to take the second game 30-20.
Game three stayed tight in the early going, with UVa taking its first lead at 13-12 on a service ace by Osco. The Cavs then built the lead to 18-14 on another Osco kill. U of L answered with three straight, forcing a Cavalier time-out. U of L then regained the lead at 21-20 on a kill by Lena Ustymenko. The score knotted again at 25 before four straight U of L points took the Cardinals to game point. UVa's Kirkwood got her 21st kill of the night to stave off the win, but a Steph Marsh kill gave U of L the win.
In the final game, U of L built an early 16-11 lead but the Cavs came back to within two at 20-18 and forcing Yelin to call a time-out. The Cardinals surged ahead 25-21 and held off a Virginia rally to win 30-25.
Lena Ustymenko had 16b kills and four blocks for the Cardinals. Freshman setter Elena Pilnikova had 45 assists with fellow frosh Svetlana Dukule adding seven kills on 17 attacks and no errors. UVa was led by Kirkwood's 28 kills.
The Cardinals return to action Saturday at 1 p.m. when they take on Loyola of Maryland. Later that evening at 7:30, U of L will face Jacksonville State, all at Cardinal Arena.
