NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion volleyball battled in each set on Saturday night, but dropped its final match of the Quest for the Crown Tournament presented by Hilton Norfolk The Main by a final score of 3-0 inside the ODU Volleyball Center.
“Overall, I think we’re starting in a much better place than we have before,” said ODU Head Coach Fred Chao afterwards. “The team’s put a lot of work in over the summer and it’s really starting to show. The addition of our new players has really elevated what we can do in the gym and we’re reaping the benefits of finally catching up as a program.”
Myah Conway and Ashlynn Belcher represented the Monarchs (2-1) on the All-Tournament Team. Conway scored 30 kills (3.33 per set) and hit .519 for the weekend, adding 10 blocks and six digs to her totals. Belcher tallied 50 assists (5.56 per set) through ODU’s three matches and helped contribute to a team hitting percentage of .264. She also served five aces and registered 15 digs.
Virginia 3, ODU 0
Neither side could create any separation in the first set until the Cavaliers (3-0) put together a 3-0 stretch for a 16-14 advantage. Trailing 20-16, Belcher set up Conway for a score and Kate Kilpatrick followed with back-to-back service aces to cut into the guests’ lead, 20-19. With UVA up 24-22 down the stretch, a service error and attack error knotted the set at 24-24. The next two points went to the visitors though as Zoey Dood assisted Elayna Duprey on consecutive kills.
The second set also finished with a 26-24 decision in favor of the Cavs. UVA built an early 12-8 lead, but the Monarchs pulled even at 19-19 thanks to aces from Alexa Earle and Belcher and a solo block from LeeAnne Lowery. After UVA went back up 23-21, kills from Conway and Maggi tied the set again at 24-24. However, Duprey converted an attack attempt and then blocked an Alice Munari attempt to clinch the set for the Cavs.
The Monarchs got some early momentum in the third set as a Hailee Blankship kill opened up a 5-0 run that put ODU in control, 6-1. Virginia answered with an 11-3 spurt to take over at 15-11 and wouldn’t relinquish the lead from there. Blankenship put away a ball from Kilpatrick and Emma Schelah chipped in a solo block to get the Monarchs back to within 19-17. A few points later, another Lowery solo block made it a 21-19 deficit. The next four points went to UVA though as a 25-19 final gave the visitors the match.
Conway led ODU on the night with 11 kills on a .417 clip and recorded a pair of blocks. Following her offensively were Blankenship and Maggi with six kills apiece while Blankenship and Kilpatrick served up two aces each. Lowery led the effort at the net with five blocks, two of them solo, and Kilpatrick and Belcher ended the match with 10 and nine digs, respectively.
Asked about this year’s newcomers and what they bring to the team, Chao added, “The main one that comes to mind right now is Hailee Blankenship. She brings steady passing, a really explosive attack, and a lethal jump serve. She knows the game and been relied on at her previous school to carry a big load. She doesn’t shy away from big moments and just getting her used to the bigger blocks against some of the opponents we’re facing will be her only real adjustment.”
“Elisabeth Levick is another one. She’s a fantastic volleyball player. She’s got to get up to speed with some of the speed of choices and decision making, but every match she is going to get better and better and we’re looking forward to that as well.”
“Another new face this year is Emma Schelah,” continued Chao. “She’s another freshman who is on the fast track of development. She is learning all the time and I’m excited to see how these early matches build her game and confidence.”
The Monarchs outserved the Wahoos with six aces compared to one for the visitors. However, ODU was held to a combined .152 hitting percentage while UVA swung for a .311 mark as a group. The match featured 17 ties, including nine in the opening set, and five lead changes.
2024 Quest for the Crown
All-Tournament Team
Milan Gomillion, Virginia (Co-MVP)
Elayna Duprey, Virginia (Co-MVP)
Abby Tadder, Virginia
Myah Conway, Old Dominion
Ashlynn Belcher, Old Dominion
Olivia Esposito, William & Mary
Sabrina Malcolm, William & Mary
Aliah Giroux, UTSA
Jamison White, Marist
Up Next
ODU has its first road match of the season this Tuesday when the Monarchs head to Williamsburg for a 6 p.m. meeting with William & Mary at Kaplan Arena.