COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – In its first five-set match of the season, the Virginia Tech volleyball team pulled out a 3-2 win over UC Irvine on Friday at Cadet East Gym.
The win gave the Hokies (4-4) their first victory at the Amy Svoboda Memorial Classic. The Anteaters (1-6) will come back later tonight to take on host Air Force (2-4).
Outside hitters Cera Powell and Tessa Wyner each had a career-high 17 kills, while setter Talyn Jackson posted her third straight double-double with a career-best 54 assists and 10 digs.
THE MATCH
Tech stormed off to a big lead out the gate, going up 15-7 after a kill by Wyner in the first set. From there, things would see saw with Tech winning 25-18.
Once again jumping out to a big lead, the Hokies began the second frame up five at 15-10. And they would maintain their momentum, extending their lead to as many as 11 points to win it 25-14.
Unlike the first two sets, UC Irvine set the tone in the third stanza by going up by six early at 11-5. Tech would battle back, though, cutting it to a one-point set at 14-13, following a block by middle blocker Kai Young and right-side hitter Marisa Cerchio. But the Anteaters got hot and went on another run to claim it 25-22.
The Hokies started fast in the fourth frame, getting up by four points, 17-13, thanks to another kill by Young. However, the tide would turn with UC Irvine tying it up at 20-all and finishing from there on a 5-2 run to win it 25-22.
Similar to the first set, Tech came out swinging to gain an early advantage, with this time taking a commanding 8-2 lead once the two teams switched sides. The Anteaters chipped away at the deficit, but it would be too much as the Hokies were victorious 15-8.
QUOTING HEAD COACH JILL WILSON
On what she saw from the team's composure in its first five-setter:
"I was really excited to see how we responded to being in a fifth set since we haven't been there," Tech coach Jill Wilson said. "Our team came out very, very aggressive, even after losing our momentum in sets three and four. I think that's a great sign for the future."
On outside hitter Tessa Wyner having a career day:
"I think she just brings such am aggressive mentality," Wilson said. "As we keep working with her on her shot, she's just going to keep taking off. Her positivity and her aggressiveness set the tone in the fifth set."
NOTES
- Powell and Wyner combined for 34 kills, making up 54 percent of the team's total in kills. Both topped their previous career highs, which they both set opening weekend in Oxford, Ohio.
- Jackson's third consecutive double-doubles gives her 128 assists and 32 digs her last three matches, averaging 9.85 assists and 2.46 digs per set over that three-match span. It also marked her fourth-ever double-double.
- Cerchio had 12 kills and three blocks, marking her fifth straight match owning double-digit kills. The Ohio native also chipped in an assist and two digs.
- Young had another outing hitting over .300, with this time racking up nine kills and three blocks. That marks her second straight match with having a hitting percentage north of .300.
- Libero Logan Mosley got back to her winning way, scooping up 22 digs. It marked her fourth time collecting 20-plus digs in a match.
UP NEXT
Tech will be back at it in roughly an hour, taking on Loyola Chicago (3-4) in its second match of the day.