University of Louisville
VIRGINIA TECH
Volleyball Beats Virginia Tech in Five
September 21, 2013 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 21, 2013
Brooke Mattingly had a career-high 20 kills and five blocks to lead the University of Louisville volleyball team to a 25-23, 12-25, 34-36, 25-18, 15-9 win over Virginia Tech in the final match of the Active Ankle Challenge Presented by Marriott Downtown.
"That was a great match with a crazy crowd cheering us on and not letting us down," said U of L head coach Anne Kordes. "Brooke Mattingly had a terrific fourth and fifth set. I am really proud of this team and they way they came out and played so hard."
For the match, Mattingly hit a scorching .516 on her way to being named MVP of the tournament. Louisville raises its record to 4-6 as it overcame 10 services aces by Virginia Tech, however, the Cardinals out-blocked the Hokies 13-7 and the defense stepped up with 30 digs. Louisville hit .268 for the match and Virgina Tech hit .225, as the Hokies suffered only their second loss in 14 matches this season. U of L setter Katie George had 61 assists and 13 digs for a double-double. Maya McClendon had the Cards' other double-double with 14 kills and 11 digs. U of L libero Caitlin Welch had a match-high 30 digs. Tech was led by Victoria Hamsher's 18 kills and two blocks.
"Caitlin Welch just hung in there and kept passing," said Kordes. "At time Katie George put the team on her back and carried us."
In a tightly contested first set, Virginia Tech jumped out to an early 9-4 lead before Louisville battled back using a 4-0 run to come within one at 9-8. The Hokies led the majority of the way until the Cardinals took their first lead of the set since 1-0 on a kill by Brooke Mattingly, making it 20-19 Cardinals. After a series of tie scores, the Cards were able to close out the set on a service error by Virginia Tech, winning 25-23.
The second set was controlled by Virginia Tech as they used a 7-0 run to grab a 13-3 advantage. The Hokies continued their successful attack and took their largest lead of the set at 23-10 on a kill by Victoria Hamsher. Hamsher's seventh kill of the set gave Virginia Tech a 25-12 win.
"We got down as far as a team can in that second set and to come so close in the third," said Kordes. "The way we kept fighting revealed our character."
Louisville took an early 5-2 lead in the third set behind three kills from Janelle Jenkins. Virginia Tech battled back to take the lead at 13-9 behind an 11-4 run. The Hokies held the lead until a kill by Randi Ewing tied it at 22-22. The set was closely contested from there on and saw 12 ties and six lead changes. Louisville had set point eight times and Virginia Tech had set point four times, before the Hokies finally took the set 36-34 on a Louisville net violations.
The intensity carried over to the fourth set as Louisville jumped out to a quick 4-2 lead before Virginia Tech came back to lead 8-10. The score was tied at 18-18 and the Cards closed the set on a 7-0 run to win going away 25-18.
In the final set the Cardinals again jumped out to an early 4-2 lead before the Hokies tied the score at 6-6. Virginia Tech never led in the fifth and the Cards closed the match on a 9-3 run, behind three kills and a block from Ewing, to win the fifth set 15-9.
