Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Behind sophomore Jaila Tolbert’s career-best 20 kills and .529 hitting percentage, the Virginia Tech volleyball team always found a way as the Hokies topped Appalachian State, 3-2, at Carilion Court in Cassell Coliseum in front of 837 fans on Friday evening.
After the Mountaineers claimed the first set, 25-22, the two teams went point-for-point in the second where they combined to register 64 total points. With its backs against the wall and facing a 31-30 deficit, an error and back-to-back kills from sophomore Rhegan Mitchell and senior Lindsey Owens cemented the Hokies’ wild 33-31 second set win.
Despite returning from the locker room and dropping the third frame, 26-24, the momentum from the second set victory stayed with Tech as the Hokies went on to take the final two sets to seal the 3-2 win in the season and home opener.
Match Notes
-Owens, a Preseason All-ACC selection, picked up where she left last season as the Orlando native posted a double-double, a team-high 22 kills and 14 digs, to go along with a .280 attacking percentage.
-Freshman Carol Raffety, who came to Blacksburg primarily as a hitter, transitioned to the back row and picked up her first career-start at libero. The Novato, California product had 28 digs, including a couple of acrobatic ones that kept Tech alive in the second set.
-Raffety’s fellow freshmen, Abby McKinzie and Gaby Sentíes, also saw time in the opener with McKinzie picking up her first service ace as a Hokie and six digs. After the second set, McKinzie shared the court with her sister and senior Amanda McKinzie.
-Mitchell matched her career-high with 57 assists, which she oringially set against Chatanooga last season on Sept. 19. She now has 973 assists through 33 career matches.
-Junior Cara Cunningham chipped in with two service aces and six blocks off the bench.
Up Next
The Hokies will face Siena at 12 p.m. and UMBC at 7 p.m. tomorrow in the final day of the Virginia Tech/Radford Invitational. Matches are free admissions and both will be streamed on WatchESPN via HokieVision LIVE and ACC Network Extra.