Virginia Tech Volleyball returns home to Cassell Coliseum this weekend in hopes to make a push for the NCAA Tournament in December. Currently at #35 in the RPI rankings, the principal factor in postseason seeding, the Hokies have an opportunity to improve their stock with 4 straight home matches, beginning Friday at 7pm against #25 Florida State.
Last week:
Tech hit the road to face North Carolina and NC State for the only meeting between the schools this season. On Friday night against UNC, the Hokies started hot and built an 11-6 lead in the first set, but the Tar Heels would slowly chip away at that lead and eventually tie the match at 16. After a 21-21 tie, 3 kills from UNC’s Courtney Johnston propelled the Tar Heels to a 25-22 victory in set 1. Set 2 was a back an fourth affair, featuring 13 ties and 8 lead changes. The Hokies had an opportunity in the end with a 23-22 lead, but similar to the first set, 3 straight points for UNC would put Tech in an 0-2 hole. The Hokies struggled to get side-outs in the third set and the Tar Heels took advantage, hitting .444 en route to a 25-17 victory.
| Remaining Opponents | |
|---|---|
| Opponent | RPI |
| FSU | 20 |
| Miami | 30 |
| BC | 220 |
| Maryland | 66 |
| @ GT | 56 |
| @ Clemson | 62 |
| @ WF | 55 |
| @ Duke | 9 |
| UVA | 64 |
Saturday evening the Hokies rebounded against the Wolfpack of NC State. Felicia Willoughby and Jennifer Wiker led the Hokies with 15 and 12 kills respectively as the Tech hit .341 as a team. Four different Hokies recorded double digit dig-nights including 14 from junior Justine Record, who was one kill shy of a double double. Setter Erin Leaser dished out 41 assists and 11 digs for her 10th double-double of the season. Leaser now has had a double-double in 8 of the last 12 matches. The 3-0 sweep was the Hokies’ 13th straight over the Wolfpack.
Up next:
The Hokies begin a 4 match home stand in Cassell Coliseum with two important matches with #25 Florida State and Miami. Tech nearly pulled off a major upset on the road in Tallahassee earlier this season,
losing by only two points in the fifth set when FSU was ranked 13th at the time. The Hokies are in a decent position at #35 in this week’s RPI, but could really help their cause down the road with victories in this crucial 4 game stretch. Florida State will be the first opportunity for Tech as the 15-6 Seminoles come to Cassell on Friday night at 7. The Noles were swept 3-0 by Wake Forest last Friday night but rebounded to beat ACC leader Duke 3-2 on Sunday. Florida State played both matches without their top player Visnja Djurdjevic and junior outside hitter Rachael Morgan missed the Duke match with a foot injury. No announcement has been made as to the status of either player for this weekend. Regardless of either player’s status, the Noles are still loaded with talent and it will be important for the Hokies to come out focused and set the tone early. FSU is only 22-20 in the first two sets of matches this season. The Hokies are 13-1 when winning the first set of matches this season.
On Saturday, Tech will face the Miami Hurricanes, who swept the Hokies in Coral Gables on September 24th. The Hurricanes sit at 16-6 (6-5 ACC) after sweeping Wake Forest and falling 3-2 to Duke last weekend. Miami a solid all-around team and is near the top of the ACC in all statistical categories except blocking. The Hokies did a good job of limiting Miami’s star outside hitter Lane Carico in September, but allowed the rest of the team to hit .402. Tech will have to try to spread out the attack and force the Hurricanes to guess and defend the entire net, as the Canes rank 22nd in the nation with over 17 digs/set.
Game notes are available here.
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