Hokie Club
BLACKSBURG – The final point of Virginia Tech volleyball's 3-0 win over Boston College couldn't have been more fitting on Senior Day, as redshirt senior Rhegan Mitchell dished it to fellow senior Jaila Tolbert, who pounded it down for the kill on Sunday afternoon at Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum.
Tolbert and Mitchell, the two lone seniors for the Hokies (14-12, 5-9 ACC), guided Tech to its fifth ACC win, topping last year's previous number of four. The Eagles (13-13, 3-11 ACC) were paced by Jewel Strawberry, who had a near double-double with eight kills, nine digs, two assists and a block.
Knotted at 9-9 to begin the match after a combination block by sophomores Marisa Cerchio and Kaity Smith, Tech took a two-point lead, 15-13, into the media timeout. Out of the break, the Hokies went on an 8-3 run and never looked back to win 25-20.
Jumping out to a 7-1 lead in the second set, the Hokies forced a Boston College timeout. However, Tech kept its momentum and maintained its six-point lead all the way up to 19-13. BC cut it to a five-point set, but Tech finished strong and won 25-18.
The Hokies once again stormed off to a substantial lead, getting up 13-4 after back-to-back kills by Smith. The Eagles would cut into the deficit though, trimming Tech's lead to 22-19, causing a Hokie timeout. But Tolbert and Mitchell would have the final say in the third stanza, earning the last point to claim it 25-21.
(11/4/2018) 2018 VOLLEYBALL SENIOR DAY
NOTES
- Tolbert recorded 12 kills on a .364 hitting percentage and two blocks. The 12 kills marked the Minnesota native's six straight match of double-digit kills.
- Mitchell dished out 37 assists and owned three digs and three blocks. Her three blocks were her most since Oct. 5 versus Georgia Tech when she had five.
- Smith registered a team-high 14 kills, eight digs and a season-high three blocks. The outside hitter's three blocks were her most since Nov. 22, 2017, when she had four against Virginia.
- Libero Carol Raffety scooped up a team-high 12 digs and had three assists for the second consecutive match. Raffety has had six matches in a row of double-digit digs.
- Cerchio posted eight kills on a team-high .533 hitting percentage with a team-best six blocks, while fellow middle blocker Kai Young had four kills and three blocks, combining for 12 kills and nine blocks in the middle.
QUOTING HEAD COACH JILL WILSON
On the team getting the sweep and its performance:
"I was really excited of how aggressive we came out offensively from all different positions," Tech coach Jill Wilson said. "The fact that we hit over .300 was just a sign of our aggressive mentality."
On the two seniors coming up big:
"I think both of them have been great all year," Wilson said. "I'm just excited for them to finish their Senior Day on a high note with each having special performances."
On the Senior Day festivities and how it all turned out:
"I thought it was great with having all of their families here," Wilson said. "I think it was evident of how much these two have meant to this program and the lasting impact that they will have."
STAT OF THE MATCH
- Tech hit north of .300 for the first time since Oct. 5 against Georgia Tech, concluding the three-set win with a .302 hitting percentage. The mark is the third-highest clip in ACC play in the Jill Wilson era.
TWEET OF THE MATCH
Give it up for these two seniors! 👏
— Virginia Tech Volleyball (@HokiesVB) November 4, 2018
4️⃣Jaila Tolbert (@jaila_tolbert)
9️⃣Rhegan Mitchell (@RheganM)#FuelTheFire | #Hokies🦃pic.twitter.com/jSrmVCTe9p
WHAT IS NEXT
- The Hokies will get back on the road as they take on in-state rival Virginia on Friday at 7 p.m. ET. The match will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra and is a part of the Commonwealth Clash presented by Virginia529.