Hokie Club
BLACKSBURG – Senior Jaila Tolbert put down a season-high 21 kills, but it would not be enough as Syracuse defeated Virginia Tech's volleyball team 3-1 on Friday night at Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum.
The Hokies (13-12, 4-9 ACC) were also led by sophomore Kaity Smith, who turned her eighth double-double of the season. The Orange (15-7, 11-3 ACC) were paced by Amber Witherspoon, who had a double-double herself with 10 kills and 14 blocks.
Tech started the match down one at 9-8 after a Rhegan Mitchell kill, but Syracuse extended its lead to three points, 15-12, heading into the media timeout. Out of the break, the Orange kept their momentum and would go on to score 10 of the next 14 points to win it, 25-16.
Tolbert put on a show in the second set, pounding down 10 kills alone. The right-side hitter started off hot, getting back-to-back kills after a 'Cuse attack error to give Tech a 3-0 lead it would not relinquish. Tolbert had consecutive kills again to put Tech up 6-4 and it would keep its lead all the way up until 21-all. But with the pressure on, Tolbert scored three of Tech's four points to claim it, 25-23.
The Orange jumped out to a 13-7 advantage to begin the third frame, causing a Tech timeout. After the break in action, the Hokies clawed back and cut it to a three-point set at 16-13 behind two kills from Tolbert and an ace from Kylie Thomas, forcing a 'Cuse timeout. The Orange would regroup, though, and go on to win 25-20.
The final stanza was all Syracuse as it got out once again to a big lead, going up 9-3 to force a Tech timeout. The Orange would not let the stop in play cause them to lose their rhythm, as it finished the frame on a 16-7 run to win it, 25-10.
(11/2/2018) 2018 VOLLEYBALL vs. SYRACUSE
NOTES
- Tolbert's 21 kills marked the second-most of her career, with it being one shy of tying a career high that she set at NC State last year on Oct. 15. The Minnesota native finished the night with an even .400 hitting percentage, marking her highest clip since Sept. 15 versus Baylor (.409).
- Smith finished with 13 kills and 11 digs, as well as chipping in an assist. The 13 kills are her second match in a row with exactly 13, and the double-double was the 13thof her career.
- Mitchell put down three kills, her most since Sept. 28 against North Carolina, and collected 41 assists and eight digs. The Georgia native hadn't cracked 40-plus since Sept. 23 versus Virginia and was the second-most assists for her this season in a four-set match.
- Libero Carol Raffety scooped up 17 digs and had three assists. The junior has collected 88 digs in her last five matches, averaging 4.40 per set. Raffety moved up to No. 7 all-time in program history for career digs, passing three Hokies tonight – Annie Spicer (2001-04), Meredith Brain (1995-98) and Justine Record (2008-11).
- Despite falling in four sets to Syracuse, the Hokies did outperform the Orange in kills (49-45), assists (46-44) and digs (52-49).
QUOTING HEAD COACH JILL WILSON
On the team's performance against a squad in the top four of the ACC standings:
"I thought our work ethic and drive defensively was outstanding," Tech coach Jill Wilson said. "It took us a little bit to get used to the size of their block because they're really high at the net. I thought we adjusted a little bit over time but just not quite enough. We'll get back to work tomorrow, keep that work ethic that we had and be a little smarter on some plays."
On Jaila Tolbert racking up over 20 kills:
"Jaila [Tolbert] was unstoppable tonight," Wilson said. "She did an absolute great job, I just wish we could've gotten her a few more balls when our passing broke down. But I'm excited for her these next few weeks to play freely – and that's what she did today."
On the excitement level of it being Alumni Weekend and Senior Day on Sunday:
"Honestly, my heart was so warm as soon as I came in the gym and saw all of these alums," Wilson said. "Some of them I had a chance to coach and some of them I met for the first time. It makes me feel very blessed to have this job."
WHAT IS NEXT
- The Hokies will be back at it on Sunday against Boston College (13-12, 3-10 ACC) at 1 p.m. ET. The match versus the Eagles will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra, and it also marks Senior Day, which will take place following the match.