WISE – The UVA Wise volleyball team opened their 2024 season with a strong showing, picking up 3-0 sweeps over West Alabama and King in the Cavalier Classic Thursday afternoon.
The wins improve the Highland Cavaliers to 2-0 on the season for the third time since the year 2000 and the second time under coach
Alyssa Hanley, whose first team went 3-0 to start the 2022 season. It is the first time they have done that feat without dropping a set.
The team also made some history in the match against King as they broke a 14 game losing streak to the Tornado dating back over 15 years.
INSIDE THE MATCHUPS
Final Match One: UVA Wise 3, West Alabama 0
Final Match Two: UVA Wise 3, King 0
Records: UVA Wise (2-0), West Alabama (0-2), King (1-1)
Location: Wise, VA | The Quillen Court at the David J. Prior Convocation Center
VS. WEST ALABAMA
- This was the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
- UVA Wise never trailed in the first set as they rolled out to an 11-1 start and never looked back in the 25-13 win.
- West Alabama took a 5-2 early lead in the second set before the Cavs tied it at 7-7. They then rolled off a 9-2 run and eventually claimed the second set 25-15.
- Set three had several ties and lead changes before UVA Wise was able to pull ahead and go on to pick up the 25-16 win and take the match.
-
Kaylee Scarce led UVA Wise with eight kills to go along with nine digs.
Emma Edwards chipped in six kills.
Abigail Curtis led all players defensively with 20 digs, while
Kamryn Livingston notched 10 digs of her own.
Piper Suddeth had 14 assists, and
Lily Gutierrez added in 10.
- Five Tigers had three kills apiece, while Maggie Roddam led UWA with 15 digs.
VS. KING
- This local rivalry is one of the oldest for the Cavs and dates back to 1975. Prior to today, the Cavs' last win in the series was on Nov. 17, 2007, when UVA Wise pulled out the 3-2 win in Bristol and claimed the NAIA Region XII championship along with a berth in the NAIA National Tournament. Since then, the Tornado had won 14 straight matches.
- Set one had several ties and lead changes before the Cavs broke a 24-24 tie with kills from
Serina Petersen and
Riley Brandon to take the set 26-24.
- UVA Wise ran out to an early lead in the second set, but the Tornado stormed back to tie the score twice. The Cavs never trailed in the set but held off a determined King squad for the 25-22 win.
- King took their only lead of the third set with the 1-0 start before the Cavs grabbed a lead they would never relinquish, though UVA Wise did get out to a five point cushion late in the match. King made a late run to tie things up at 23-23, but back to back kills by
Dannah Persinger and Brandon sealed the victory for the Cavs.
- Scarce led the team in the match with a near double-double of 13 kills and nine digs. Brandon added in eight kills. Curtis had 27 digs in this match, while Suddeth (18) and Gutierrez (15) combined for 33 assists.
Cassidy Farley had four aces in the contest.
- Gracia Love led the Tornado with 16 kills, Bailey Fersner had 16 digs, and Amaya Hall had 19 assists.
GETTING WISE
- With 21 combined kills on the evening,
Kaylee Scarce now has 600 for her career and is the 12
th Highland Cavalier to pass the 600 kills mark.
- With 25 assists today,
Lily Gutierrez hit the 800 career assist mark and moves her into sole possession of tenth place in the career standings.
-
Piper Suddeth's 32 assists move her to 700 for her career, making her the 12
th Cavalier to pass 700.
- It was the first meeting between UVA Wise and West Alabama; and the 46
th (according to available records) vs. King.
- These were the 141
st and 142
nd games played in the Prior Center.
UP NEXT
The Cavalier Classic continues on Friday with Bluefield State, King, Lees-McRae, and West Alabama all playing. The Cavs return to action on Saturday, the final day of the Classic, when they face Bluefield State at 10 a.m. and Lees-McRae at 2 p.m.
