Previewing the 2023 Virginia Volleyball Season

The Cavaliers are hoping to turn a corner in year 3 of the Shannon Wells era of Virginia volleyball. UVA has experienced marginal improvements in each of the first two seasons under Wells' direction and last season, the Hoos went 12-17 overall, their highest win total in the last three seasons. Virginia turned in an 8-3 record in non-conference matches and beat an NCAA Tournament team (Florida State) for the second year in a row. The Cavaliers have more victories over tournament teams in the last two seasons than they did in the previous five seasons combined.

Virginia loses some key contributors, namely All-ACC outside hitter Grace Turner, but returns plenty of notable players from last season's squad and brings in several quality additions that should allow the Cavaliers to take another step forward, and possibly a big one, in 2023.

With the start of the season coming up this weekend, here's a full preview of the roster and schedule for the 2023 Virginia volleyball season.

Roster

In addition to the aforementioned Grace Turner, who ended her career by becoming the first Cavalier since 2010 to notch six 20-kill matches in a single season, UVA also loses outside hitters Mary Shaffer, Jayna Francis, and Simone Dominique, middle blocker Mattison Matthews, setter Gabby Easton, and defensive specialist Josi Williams.

With that said, Virginia has plenty to be excited about with its core of returning players. Junior setter Ashley Le is back after tallying 359 assists (second on the team) and 158 digs (fourth on the team) in 2022. Outside hitters Chloe Wilson, Brooklyn Borum, and GG Carvacho provide an abundance of experience, having played in a combined 163 matches over the course of their careers. Junior Abby Tadder and graduate Veresia Yon are back at middle blocker. Tadder led the team in total blocks (114.0) and both Tadder and Yon led the team and were ninth in the ACC in hitting percentage (.333). Yon's .786 hitting percentage in a match at Boston College was the best hitting percentage in a five-set match in UVA program history. Virginia also brings back defensive specialists Kate Johnson, Heyli Velasquez, and Madison Morey.

UVA secured three quality additions from the transfer portal. Illinois Springfield transfer setter Regan Trueblood tallied 33 aces and 780 assists in 2022 alone and has logged 1,420 assists in her four-year career. Ciera "CiCi" Hecht comes to Virginia after spending three seasons at Texas A&M. In 2021, Hecht recorded 60 kills, 156 digs, 10 assists, and eight blocks in 23 matches. Finally, defensive specialist Milan Gomillion transferred to Virginia from Maryland, where she led the team in total digs (480) and digs per set (4.03) last season and led the entire Big Ten in digs per set (4.67) in her freshman season in 2021. Virginia also brings in a promising freshmen class, featuring outside hitter Lauryn Bowie, middle blockers Nala Cornegy and Lily Gervase, and defensive specialists Meredith Reeg.

As Virginia looks to improve on its win total and take a step towards qualifying for postseason play, let's take a look at the regular season schedule awaiting the Cavaliers in 2023.

Schedule

Virginia opens the 2023 season by hosting the Cavalier Classic beginning with the season-opener against Rider on Friday, August 25th. UVA will then face either Rutgers or North Carolina A&T. The Cavaliers travel to New York on the first weekend of September for the Big Apple Tournament hosted by Columbia and will play Quinnipiac and Columbia. As part of the DMV Invitational the next weekend, Virginia will play at Howard in Washington, D.C. followed by matches against Coastal Carolina and UMBC in Baltimore. On the weekend of September 15th, UVA will host the Jefferson Cup with matches against Norfolk State and either George Washington or Wofford. In non-conference play, Virginia will also host Old Dominion and American at Mem Gym.

In ACC play, Virginia will play the following four teams twice (home and away): Virginia Tech, NC State, Notre Dame, and Duke. UVA will travel to play North Carolina, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Miami, and Florida State. The Cavaliers will host Syracuse, Boston College, Clemson, Georgia Tech, and Wake Forest.

In 2023, Virginia will face seven teams that made the NCAA Tournament last season: Quinnipiac, UMBC, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Miami, and Florida State.

Click here to see the complete 2023 Virginia volleyball schedule.

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