No. 14 Duke Sweeps Virginia on the Road

Friday, October 2

Charlottesville, Va.

6:30 PM

Duke University

3-0,3-0ACC

Virginia

1-1,0-1ACC

Duke

Virginia

No. 14 Duke Sweeps Virginia on the Road

10/2/2020 9:14:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The 14th-ranked Duke volleyball team continued its powerful start to the 2020 season with a 3-0 sweep on the road against Virginia (25-23, 25-17, 25-18) Friday evening in Charlottesville, Va.

With the dub, the nationally-ranked Blue Devils remain undefeated at 3-0 overall and in conference play as the Cavaliers dip to 1-1 overall and 0-1 against ACC foes.

"Really thrilled for our team tonight to have an opportunity to compete and demonstrate on the court through their play and the gratitude they feel," head coach Jolene Nagel said. "They have been a determined/together group since our last season ended and it is evident on the court in their play. Despite the uncertainty that they have felt since March, they have used the time to grow individually and as a team. The team is locked in to the moment which has everyone having fun. When opportunities have been given on the court they have taken advantage ... It was a team effort."

Boasted by a season-high .319 team hitting percentage, senior Payton Schwantz and sophomore Gracie Johnson combined for 25 kills on just four total errors as Schwantz hit a whopping .440 percent to Johnson's .417 for the match. Junior Lily Cooper also had a solid showing this evening with six kills and no errors to hit .462 percent.

Schwantz recorded her first double-double of the season with 13 kills and 11 digs to go along with three aces and three blocks.

The Blue Devils, who lead the nation in blocks per set, registered 16 blocks for eight total team blocks this evening and limited the Cavaliers to just two total team blocks. Duke's block limited the Cavaliers to a .155 hitting percentage.

Defensively, libero Mackenzie Cole collected 15 digs as setters Alex Springate and Camille Nazor dished 23 and 15 assists, respectively. Springate's 23 dimes were a season high.

Duke came out hot in the first set to hit .267 percent as Johnson and Schwantz each registered five kills and just one error to hit .364. Behind six blocks, the Blue Devils limited the Cavaliers to a .068 clip in the first frame.

Johnson picked up five more kills in the second set to hit .500 with just two errors through the first two stanzas as the Blue Devils registered four service aces courtesy of Schwantz and Lizzie Fleming.

Sydney Yap made her collegiate debut in the third frame and secured Duke a three-point advantage (20-17) with a service ace as Duke went on a 5-0 run to close out the match. Schwantz notched back-to-back kills for her 13th of the night just before Fleming captured her sixth block of the match to secure the victory.

Duke looks to continue its win streak and will close out the weekend Saturday with its second match against Virginia at 6:30 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.

For more information on Duke volleyball, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "DukeVB".

#GoDuke