COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – For the fourth time in the Jill Wilson era, the Virginia Tech volleyball team went a perfect 3-0 on a weekend and claimed a tournament title, as the Hokies defeated host Air Force 3-1 on Saturday night inside Cadet East Gym.
The Amy Svoboda Memorial Classic title belongs to the Hokies (6-4), thanks to setter Talyn Jackson (34 assists, 13 digs) and outside hitter Cera Powell (14 kills, six blocks) making big plays all night and all weekend, receiving all-tournament team honors.
The nonconference tournament title marks Tech's sixth since Wilson took over in 2017, winning two in 2017, three in 2018 and one thus far in 2019.
THE MATCH
Jumping out to a strong start, Tech went up by 10 in the early going at 13-3, following a combo block from the freshman duo of Cera Powell and Anabel Zier to force an Air Force timeout. Out of the break, the Falcons chipped away at the deficit, trimming it to as little as eight, but Tech finished on its own terms to win by 10 at 25-15.
Knotted at 7-7 to begin the second set, the Falcons took their first lead of the match heading into the media timeout at 15-14. But the Hokies responded with some clutch blocks by Powell and Zier again, giving them a lead they would not relent to win it 25-19.
Trailing at 15-11 at the media break, Tech cut into Air Force's biggest lead of the night, storming back to make it a one-point set at 17-16 to cause a Falcon timeout in the third frame. But Air Force would maintain its slim lead and end up winning by two at 25-23.
The fourth stanza started similarly to the third set, with the Hokies losing by a few points at the media break, 15-12. However, they dug deep and finished on a 13-6 run to claim it 25-21.
QUOTING TECH COACH JILL WILSON
On how the bench stepped up with switching the lineup in the third and fourth sets:
"I thought our team on the bench had really good focus," Wilson said. "They were really tuned in to what was happening on the other side. So, I had confidence that we could make a couple of adjustments that they would be ready to go."
On being pleased with a 3-0 weekend and what the team can take back to Blacksburg from it:
"I told our team that we took a huge step and that I was very pleased with our step offensively," Wilson said. "We haven't had some of these numbers in a few years, so we're are excited to keep building from there."
On outside hitter Cera Powell showing out all weekend:
"Cera [Powell] grew up big time," Wilson said. "I told her that she was playing like a junior. I was really impressed with just a couple of weeks match experience of her attitude and level of aggression."
NOTES
- Jackson dazzled all weekend, getting three double-doubles and racked up 138 assists, averaging 10.62 assists per set. It also marked her first time being named to an all-tournament team.
- Fellow all-tourney partner in crime Powell made an all-tourney team for her first time, too, collecting 47 kills to average 3.62 kills per set. The North Carolina native turned in a career-high six blocks, topping her previous high of five she set in the season opener against USC Upstate on Aug. 30.
- Right-side hitter Marisa Cerchio extended her streak of owning 10 or more kills in a match, getting 12 for the second straight match. She is averaging 3.17 kills per stretch during this seven-match streak.
- Libero Logan Mosley had 10-plus digs for the third straight match and averaged 3.62 digs per set for a total of 47 digs at the tournament.
UP NEXT
Tech will head back to Blacksburg and play host to its first tournament inside the friendly confines of Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum Sept. 20-21.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Talyn Jackson, Virginia Tech
Cera Powell, Virginia Tech
Taylor Venuto, Loyola Chicago
Sarah Murczek, Loyola Chicago
Abby Marjama, UC Irvine
Bailey Keith, Air Force