Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – In its final regular-season match, the Virginia Tech volleyball team finished off North Carolina 3-2 on Friday at Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum.
The Hokies (11-20, 4-14 ACC), in a barn burner, beat North Carolina (15-13, 12-6) in back-to-back seasons for the first time in school history. Tech coach Jill Wilson improves to 2-2 against UNC and her former boss Joe Sagula.
Tech saw outstanding performances from junior Kaity Smith, who notched a season high in kills with 24 and added 12 digs to earn a double-double, and setter Talyn Jackson notched her first-ever triple-double of the season, with 46 assists, 10 kills and 16 digs. It marked the first time a player has gotten a triple-double in the Jill Wilson era.
Kylie Thomas scooped up 21 digs, which is her second-highest total of the season behind her 22 digs against NC State on Oct. 4. Middle blocker Marisa Cerchio posted 13 kills and sophomore Angel Robinson recorded a season-high three blocks.
THE GAME
In the first set, Tech jumped out to an early 15-10 lead. Tech halted the Tar Heels every time UNC picked up momentum in the frame. The Hokies were paced by Cerchio, who racked up five kills as Tech won the first frame 25-21.
Set two was tight all the way through with both teams trading points as the score was even at 20-20 late in the stanza. The Tar Heels made a couple of key plays down the stretch to claim the set 25-23.
Tech received significant contributions in the third frame from Smith with six kills, Thomas with nine digs and Jackson with nine assists. Tech got an early lead and never looked back, rolling to a 25-9 victory in the third thanks to an impressive 14-0 run.
Looking to tie the match at 2-2, the Tar Heels were poised throughout the fourth. UNC caught fire halfway through the fourth building, a 21-16 advantage. Tech mounted a comeback late to push the Heels, but the deficit was too much to overcome as UNC won the set 25-23.
In the final deciding frame, Tech went up 7-0 early behind back-to-back kills from Smith. UNC would push Tech late in the set, making the score 13-10. Key plays from Jackson and Cerchio propelled the Hokies to claim the set 15-11 and win the match.
QUOTING VIRGINIA TECH HEAD COACH JILL WILSON
On the victory over North Carolina:
"I was really proud of the way our team competed as hard as they've ever competed all year," Wilson said. "And I think we got a good glimpse of what the future holds."
On Kaity Smith's performance:
"Kaity, the entire year, had been working her way back in after an injury last spring, and I think we are going to keep seeing her take off through the offseason," Wilson said. "I was really proud of how aggressive she was today."
MATCH NOTES
- Jackson dished out 46 assists, pushing her total over a thousand to 1027 on the season.
- Smith registered her ninth double-double of the season.
- Cerchio racked up 13 kills against UNC, giving her a total of 312 on the year.
- Thomas scooped up 21 digs giving her 40 over the last three matches and gave her two 20-dig outings this fall.