Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Despite the ninth double-double of the season from senior Amanda McKinzie, second-place Duke proved to be too much for the Virginia Tech volleyball team as the Hokies (9-17, 4-11 ACC) fell to the Blue Devils, 3-0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-15), on Friday afternoon on Carilion Court.
McKinzie finished with a match-high 12 kills to go along with 10 digs and a block for Tech. Senior Lindsey Owens and sophomore Jaila Tolbert each tallied six kills and junior Cara Cunningham racked up a team-high three blocks, all solo.
After dropping the first set, the Hokies drew within four, 11-7, in the second game after back-to-back kills from sophomore Kelly Esch. Duke (19-6, 13-2 ACC) countered with a 5-2 run that gave them a commanding 17-9 lead en route to a 25-17 second set win.
The Blue Devils again jumped out to an early lead in the third set but the Hokies combated with a 6-1 run, sparked by kills from McKinzie and sophomore Rhegan Mitchell, that made the score 15-10. It wouldn’t be enough though as a tough Duke squad took the third set to complete the sweep.
The Hokies return to Cassell for its final home match of 2016, a 1 p.m. Senior Day match against Wake Forest. Seniors Katie Krueger, Amanda McKinzie and Lindsey Owens will be honored before the game.