Boston College Athletics
Boston College
6-10, 2-3ACC
Virginia
6-9, 0-5ACC
Volleyball Tops Virginia, Completes ACC Weekend Sweep
October 02, 2011 | Volleyball
Oct. 2, 2011
boxscore 
Chestnut Hill, Mass. -The Boston College volleyball team defeated Virginia, 25-18, 22-25, 25-19, 25-20, on Sunday afternoon in Power Gym, marking the first time that the Eagles (6-10, 2-3 ACC) swept conference play in one weekend since the 2007 season.
Junior middle hitter Krystle Higgins helped propel BC past Virginia (6-9, 0-5 ACC) with a stellar hitting percentage of .474 on a season-best 11 kills on 19 attempts and a team-high four block assists.
Fellow middles, senior Mollie Kolosky and sophomore Melissa McTighe also proved to be catalysts for the Eagles. McTighe cashed in on a career-best 10 kills behind 21 swings for an impressive .381 attack, while Kolosky's nine kills were the most for the Wheaton, Ill., native since 2009.
Leading all players with a career-high 19 kills was freshman Courtney Castle. The outside hitter also set a new personal best with 15 digs, adding an ace and team-high four total blocks.
Classmate Kellie Barnum dished out a career-best 50 assists, the most for the Eagles this season, served for two aces, made six digs and had a career-high three blocks.
Senior libero Brennan Clark made several diving saves to help ignite the offense that hit .255 against the Cavaliers. The captain turned in 23 digs, a kill and an assist in the win.
The Eagles took the first point of the match off a service error, before claiming the next two on the first of senior Tsvetelina Dureva's nine kills and an ace from freshman Lauren Fields. Simone Asque got Virginia on the board with the first of her team-high 14 kills on the next play, but the Hoos did not catch BC in the first. Kolosky and McTighe went a combined 7-for-8 on the attack and the Eagles capitalize on UVA errors to run away with set one, 25-18.
A pair of kills from Higgins put Boston College on top, 2-0, to start the second, however a 9-1 run put Virginia in command. The Eagles spread their attack, with six players registering at least two kills, to fight back within two points on three occasions, but one of Jessica O'Shoney's 13 kills ended set two, 25-22.
The pivotal third game was tied six times and involved three lead changes. Virginia took the early lead, but Boston College caught up at five all and kept pace through sevens. A pair of Cavalier errors and kill from Kolosky put the Eagles up three, 10-7, but UVA came back to take the lead, 14-13, in thanks to Asque and Emily Rottman. A kill from McTighe and another from Kolosky pulled BC back on top, 15-14. When Higgins delivered a pair of kills to stretch the gap to three, 20-17, Virginia was forced to take a timeout, but the Eagles were in the midst of a 10-5 run that was rewarded with a third set win, 25-19.
Dureva and Castle put away kills to start the fourth frame. Although the Eagles built a lead of four, the Cavs were able to climb back in the match at 11 all. After a timeout from BC, Castle put away another shot, but the sides traded points to 15-15. Another of Castle's 10 third-set kills gave the advantage back to Boston College, 16-15. From there, the rookie, along with Dureva, McTighe and Barnum provided the necessary attacks, before Higgins clinched the match, 25-20, will her final kill of the day.
The Eagles will resume ACC play at Clemson on Friday, October 7, at 7 p.m. Fans unable to attend are invited to follow along via GameTracker or watch live through subscription-based service TigerCast.
Noteworthy
1. Higgins' team-leading four block assists enabled her to jump former teammate Melanie Cimino (218) on BC's all-time total blocks list. The Inglewood, Calif., native now has 221 total blocks and ranks eighth in Eagles history.
2. Clark's 23 scoops bring her career total to 1,547 digs, second most ever for Boston College.
3. Barnum's 190 assists this season are the eighth most by a first-year member of the Eagles.
4. Castle's 21.5 point established a new career high.
5. Fields' 11 digs marked the fifth time the freshman has recorded 10 or more in a single match.
