Hokie Club
BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech volleyball team is set to play host to [RV] Florida State on Friday and Miami (Fla.) on Sunday inside Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum.
The Hokies (9-14, 2-8 ACC) look to continue their winning ways at home this weekend, when they play host to two teams that just faced off in Tallahassee. Florida State (14-6, 8-3) defeated Miami (8-11, 4-7) in four sets on Wednesday.
Tech's match Friday is its Vs. Cancer match, as the Hokies will be supporting the fight against pediatric brain cancer. Middle blocker Kai Young lost her brother Kolby a few years ago and fans will be able to see a sit-down interview of Young and her parents discussing the tragic loss and how they have been fighting ever since to bring more awareness to the cause.
For more information, please visit vthoki.es/VB-VS-Cancer to donate.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Fri. | 6 p.m. ET vs. [RV] Florida State | Stats | Watch
Sun. | Noon ET vs. Miami (Fla.) | Stats | Watch
Last time out, the Hokies beat Wake Forest (11-10, 1-9) 3-2 on the road. Tech took the first two sets, followed by Wake winning the next two, but in the fifth set, the Hokies won, 15-11, to clinch the match.
Against Wake, junior Kaity Smith recorded 13 kills and 12 digs for her second straight double-double, while also tying a season-high three blocks. Sophomore Talyn Jackson dished out 40 assists, and freshman Logan Mosley registered 27 digs, which was her second-most digs in a match this fall.
Last time at home, Tech upset then-No. 23 Louisville (15-5, 8-2) in four sets in Cassell. The Cardinals entered the contest undefeated in the ACC through seven matches until they came to Blacksburg. Smith had a near double-double with 12 kills and nine digs in the victory.
Mosely ranks first in the ACC in digs per set with an average of 4.47, minimum 75 percent of team sets played, and Jackson is averaging 9.15 assists per set, which ranks seventh in the conference. As a team, Tech is third in the league for digs per set (14.53).
SCOUTING [RV] FLORIDA STATE
- The Seminoles are coming off a home victory over in-state rival Miami, winning by a score of 3-1. FSU has won four out of its last five matches and ranks fourth in the ACC standings.
- Head coach Chris Poole enters his 12th year in Tallahassee. Poole has 824 career wins, which makes him one of the most winningest active coaches across the land.
- Payton Caffrey leads the 'Noles offensively on the outside,ranking second in the conference in kills per set with a 4.16 mark, while her partner in crime Taryn Knuth holds down the middle and has the fourth-best hitting percentage (.379) in the league.
- Florida State leads Tech in the overall series 33-4 and has won the last six outings, as the Hokies look to earn their first win over FSU since 2013.
SCOUTING MIAMI (Fla.)
- Miami has dropped its last four matches against ACC opponents, with its last win coming against Syracuse at home in four sets. Miami also has notable road wins against the likes of Duke (10-13, 3-7) and Wake.
- Jose "Keno" Gandara is currently in his seventh season as the head coach in Coral Gables. Gandara is 6-0 against Tech since becoming the head guy for the U.
- One of the better setters in the ACC, the 'Canes are paced by Savannah Vach and her 10.48 assists per set, ranking fourth in the league.
- Miami holds the advantage in the all-time series 20-7 and has won the last six matches. Tech's last win came in 2013, a four-set victory in Blacksburg.