Once sophomore Erin Noble hit the first kill of the game, Virginia knew they were facing a determined Duke volleyball team.
The Blue Devils (13-5, 1-2 in the ACC) dominated all three games, 30-17, 30-19, 30-16, using consistent pressure at the net and unchallenged attacks. In a text book play in the first game, a double block by Krista Dill and Arielle Linderman led to a free ball by the desperate UVa defense and a kill by senior Rachel Vander Griend. This unwavering vehemence carried Duke through the rest of the match, never challenged by a Virginia (6-12, 0-3) retort.
Duke's driving force both defensively and offensively was at the net. Senior middle blocker, Krista Dill, was practically impenetrable. The top two hitters for the Cavaliers, Paige Davis and Shannon Boyle, were completely shut down, hitting only six and seven kills, respectively. Dill held all four of the teams total blocks, pressuring UVa into numerous long shots and errors.
"That play has always been there," Dill said. "We were always capable of it and tonight everything came together."
Duke played with an intensity reflective of the first game against Florida State, in which they dominated with a high level of play only to fall apart in the next two games. But against UVa, the Blue Devils possessed a consistency through all three games that made the difference. The Cavaliers never had a chance to pull ahead or even hold the ball for more than a few serves before a kill by senior Jill Sonne, or a defensive rebuke at the net. Sonne, finishing the match with a team-leading 13 kills, was impressed with the team's success in individual progress.
"Since Saturday we've really tried to pick up our individual play," Sonne said. "It really helps the entire team come together."
Certainly, the team's individual success created a commanding offensive unit, out-killing UVa 48-27.
"I think we realized how much we weren't doing the things we could control ourselves," coach Jolene Nagel said. "It'll be interesting to see if we can do the same tomorrow."
Duke faces Maryland tomorrow night hoping to maintain the same amount of focus and control. Maryland, 0-2 in the ACC, holds yet another challenge, but tonight's victory has shown the full potential of this year's team.
"We definitely gained a lot of confidence tonight," Sonne said. "We'll come out ready to play tomorrow."
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