The Virginia volleyball team opened their season this weekend at Colorado State's Rams Volleyball Rocky Mountain Invite with mixed results.
In the opener on Friday, the Cavaliers fell to the host Rams 3-0 with game scores of 25-18, 25-13 and 25-20. All three matches were competitive, but Colorado State was just too much for the young Virginia squad.
In the first match on Saturday, Cavaliers' first year head coach Dennis Hohenshelt picked up his first career win as a head coach as the 'Hoos took down the Rhode Island Rams 3-0 with game scores of 26-24, 25-10 and 25-19. I can only imagine that it felt really good for Coach Hohenshelt - and the whole squad - to get that first win.
Continuing the back and forth sweeps, Denver blanked the Cavaliers 3-0 in the nightcap with game scores of 25-16, 25-22 and 25-15. Once again, the matches were competitive but Virginia just couldn't quite hang with the Pioneers.
The star of the weekend for Virginia was probably sophomore Tori Janowski who was named to the all-tournament team. The setter recorded a double-double (kills and assists) in each of Saturday's matches. In addition, she had ten assists and seven kills in Friday's match with Colorado State. Junior Emily Rottman led the team in digs in both matches on Saturday while senior Rachel Gray led the team on Friday.
The Cavaliers return home to host the Holiday Inn Jefferson Cup this weekend. Virginia faces Western Kentucky on Friday at 7pm, Lehigh at 1pm on Saturday and Delaware at 7pm on Saturday. The time of the events on Saturday means that football fans should have the opportunity to catch the volleyball team play either before or after the football game. Or even better - both.