Boston College Athletics
Volleyball Takes Court Against Virginia, Virginia Tech This Weekend
November 09, 2011 | Volleyball
Nov. 9, 2011
Chestnut Hill, Mass. –The Boston College volleyball team will meet Virginia and Virginia Tech in a pair of ACC matches this weekend. The Eagles (7-19, 3-12 ACC) take on the Cavaliers (8-17, 2-13 ACC) on Friday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. and face off against the Hokies (13-13, 6-9 ACC) the following night at 6 p.m. Live stats will be available for both matches (UVA / Tech), while the match at Virginia Tech will also be streamed live.
The Stage
When BC defeated Virginia and Virginia Tech back in late September and early August, it marked the first weekend sweep for the Eagles in four seasons. This time Boston College will have to pull off the same feat on the road, with both opponents looking to defend their home court and pick up a pair of much needed wins. The Eagles and the Cavaliers are aiming to snap six-game skids, while the Hokies are in the midst of a four-match falter.
Last Weekend
Boston College threatened Georgia Tech and Clemson, but fell in each match, 3-1. Both Virginia and Virginia Tech fell at Duke, 3-1, and lost in five-set battles with Wake Forest.
The Last Time Out
Oct. 2, 2011 – Virginia - 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.
Sept. 29, 2011 – Virginia Tech - Higgins battered Virginia Tech's defense with a phenomenal .533 hitting percentage to lead the Boston College volleyball team in a sweep, 27-25, 25-18, 25-18, in Power Gym. The captain delivered a season-high nine kills and team-best four blocks to lead the Eagles past the Hokies for their first conference win of the season. Boston College utilized its season-best hitting percentage of .279 to break apart the Virginia Tech defense that came into the matchup ranked third in the ACC. Barnum orchestrated a career-high 34 assists for the offense, while successfully chiming in on 4-of-6 shots of her own. Dureva led the Eagles with a match-high 12 kills on .261 hitting, recording her seventh game of double-digit kills this year. Clark championed the back-row effort once again, leading all players with 10 digs and adding five assists as the libero. Castle put away the first two chances she saw to help Boston College jump on Virginia Tech out of the gate. The outside hitter paced her squad with four kills, as the Eagles registered a .343 attack to control most of the first set.
Scouting the Eagles
Boston College is producing 11.1 kills per game on a .135 attack percentage so far this season. The Eagles largely look to Dureva (3.01 kpg) and Castle (2.47 kpg) for offense. However, Higgins (.237) and McTighe (.209) are BC’s most efficient strikers. Castle had registered a double-double in three straight matches.
Barnum has navigated the offense for most of the season, totaling 467 assists and a 9.53 assists per set average in conference play, sixth best in the league.
Defensively, Clark has made 447 digs this season and is averaging 4.97 dpg, second highest in the ACC. BC’s biggest net presence has continued to be McTighe and Higgins, having totaled 82 and 81 blocks.
At the service line, freshman Lauren Fields has a team-best 22 aces, while sophomores Alexandra Trobbe and Courtney Seitz have seen an increased role in serving situations.
Scouting the Cavaliers
Virginia averages a .215 attack, but allows a .235 hitting percentage from opponents. The Cavaliers are also at a disadvantage in aces (1.1 to 1.4) and digs (15.1 to 16.3) per game, but hold even at two blocks per game.
The Cavaliers rely heavily on Simone Asque and Jessica O’Shoney. Asque is the most dangerous attacker with 3.64 kills per game, while O’Shoney leads the team in hitting percentage (.358) and blocking (1.05 bpg) and is second in the team in kills per game (2.76).
Beth Wildermuth distributes most of the passes. The setter averages 9.72 assists per game and is second on the squad with 16 aces.
Scouting the Hokies
Virginia Tech is averaging 12.3 kills per game and hitting .196, while limiting opponents to a .191 attack this season. The Hokies rate third in the ACC for blocks per game (2.56) and second in aces (1.24).
The blocking effort is lead by Victoria Hamsher, whose 1.25 bpg is tied for 37th in the nation. Hamsher’s 126 totals is followed by Jennifer Wiker’s 73 and Cara Baarendes’s 70.
The offense is largely distributed through Erin Leaser, with 6.90 assists per set, to Baarendse for 2.71 kills per game. Baarendse’s 274 kills are supported by Wiker’s 243 kills and Justine Record’s 202 kills. Record is also a threat at the service line, leading Tech with 36 aces in 95 games (0.38 apg), second highest in the league.
