BLACKSBURG – For the first time this season, the Virginia Tech volleyball team will play inside the friendly confines of Cassell Coliseum in regular-season action, playing host to the Hokie Invitational sponsored by the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Christiansburg on Carilion Clinic Court Friday and Saturday.
The two-day tournament kicks off Friday morning at 10 a.m. ET and will wrap up after 5 p.m. on Saturday. Arkansas State (6-3), Charlotte (7-5) and Chattanooga (5-5) will make the trek to Blacksburg, with everyone wrapping up their final time out in nonconference weekend action.
All three of Tech's matches will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra, with Bailey Angle (play-by-play) and Jake Lawrence (analyst) on the call for both matches Friday and Evan Hughes (play-by-play) and Lawrence on Saturday.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Fri. | 10 a.m. ET Charlotte vs. Arkansas State | Stats
Fri. | 12:30 p.m. ET Virginia Tech vs. Chattanooga | Stats | Watch
Fri. | 5 p.m. ET Chattanooga vs. Charlotte | Stats
Fri. | 7:30 p.m. ET Virginia Tech vs. Arkansas State | Stats | Watch
Sat. | 1 p.m. ET Chattanooga vs. Arkansas State | Stats
Sat. | 3:30 p.m. ET Virginia Tech vs. Charlotte | Stats | Watch
The last time out, the Hokies went into Colorado Springs, Colorado and came out with a tournament title, going 3-0 last weekend. In doing so, Tech won its sixth nonconference crown since Tech coach Jill Wilson has taken over since 2017.
Setter Talyn Jackson and outside hitter Cera Powell both made the all-tournament team, a first for each of them. Jackson dazzled all weekend, getting three double-doubles and racking up 138 assists (10.62 assists per set), while Powell collected 47 kills for a 3.62 kills per set average.
In the ACC rankings, libero Logan Mosley owns the No. 2 mark in the ACC for digs per set (4.92) and right-side hitter Marisa Cerchio also is in the top 10 of the league, sitting No. 5 for kills per set (minimum 15 sets played) with a 4.07 mark.
Jackson ranks sixth in the league for assists per set with a 9.70 average and middle blocker Anabel Zier sits sixth for blocks per set (1.40) and middle blocker Kai Young is ninth with a 1.25 mark in the conference.
SCOUTING ARKANSAS STATE
• Arkansas State tallied a 2-1 record playing host to the A-State Invitational this past weekend. The Red Wolves defeated Stephen F. Austin and Arkansas-Pine Bluff but fell to Rice 1-3.
• Head coach Santiago Restrepo is beginning his first year in Jonesboro, following his stent at Oklahoma City.
• The Red Wolves are led by Peyton Uhlenhake and her 112 kills to date this season.
• Tech trails the all-time series 1-2. The Hokies defeated the Red Wolves in their last matchup in 2017 in Jonesboro.
SCOUTING CHARLOTTE
• Charlotte recorded a winning 2-1 record this past weekend at the Charm City Invitational, defeating UMBC and Canisius. The 49ers are coming off a five-set win over Davidson, a foe Tech beat this year, on Tuesday.
• Head coach Karen Weatherington kicks off her fifth season with the 49ers, following back-to-back C-USA Tournament appearances.
• The 49ers are paced by Sydney Rowan who leads the team with 161 kills, averaging 3.74 kills a set. While on defense, Yumi Garcia leads the group with 6.72 digs per set.
• The Hokies lead the series 13-8. Tech defeated the 49ers 3-2 in their last matchup in 2018 behind career highs from middle blocker Marisa Cerchio and Kai Young.
SCOUTING CHATTANOOGA
• Chattanooga, playing as the host of the Chattanooga Classic this past weekend, went 3-0 defeating Tennessee Tech, Manhattan and North Alabama.
• Head coach Travis Filar kicks off his ninth season in Chattanooga. He led the Mocs to the Southern Conference Championship in 2015.
• The Mocs are led by setter Maddie Halsey, who was named Most Outstanding Player at the Chattanooga Classic. Halsey totaled 123 assists, 14 kills and 27 digs over the weekend.
• Tech leads the all-time series 4-1 against the Mocs, starting the series 4-0, but fell to Chattanooga in the most recent matchup in 2015.
