BLACKSBURG – In its 2019 season, the Virginia Tech volleyball team secured major wins, tournament titles, broke individual school records and garnered spectacular player performances.
The Hokies (11-20, 4-14 ACC) closed the season defeating North Carolina in a five-set thriller and now look to the future.
THE START
Tech started the season off defeating USC Upstate in four sets in Oxford, Ohio, behind three players adding double-figure kills, including middle blocker Marisa Cerchio (11), freshmen Anabel Zier (10) and Cera Powell (12).
The Hokies then claimed the Amy Svoboda Memorial Classic Tournament Title early in the season. Tech won three straight matches over UC Irvine, Loyola Chicago and Air Force to take home the hardware. In the title game, Powell collected 14 kills and six blocks and earned all-tournament team honors.
This title would mark the sixth nonconference tournament championship in the last three years, winning two in 2017, three in 2018 and one in 2019.
ACC PLAY
The Hokies defeated then-No.23 Louisville in four sets to claim its first conference win of the season. Tech saw outstanding outings from junior Kaity Smith, who filled up the stat sheet with 12 kills, nine digs and three blocks, and setter Talyn Jackson, who dished out 37 assists in the win. This victory marked the first ranked win since 2015 (then-No.19 Michigan State).
On the road, the Hokies defeated both Wake Forest and Clemson in five sets. Against Wake, Smith registered a 13-kill, 12-dig double-double and Jackson recorded 40 assists in the 3-2 success. Versus Clemson, Smith again put together a double-double with 15 kills and 10 digs and Jennifer Williams notched a career-high 10 kills.
In its regular-season finale, the Hokies took down North Carolina in five sets. The Tar Heels finished tied for third in the conference and garnered 12 ACC wins.
MILESTONES/NOTABLES
Libero Logan Mosley broke the Virginia Tech school record for most digs in a season by a freshman with 507 on the season.
Jackson accomplished her first-ever triple-double with 46 assists, 10 kills and 16 digs against North Carolina. The Nevada native also finished the season with 1,027 assists.
As a team, Tech went 5-1 in matches that went five sets, with three of those wins coming in the ACC and three coming away from Cassell.
Smith notched a season-high 24 kills against North Carolina, propelling Tech to win its final match of the season.
In its win over Clemson, Tech tallied an ACC-high 11 aces to help claim the road victory over the Tigers.
Cerchio concluded the 2019 season as the team leader in kills with 312 on the season.
Tech won eight matches away from Cassell, including five on a neutral floor and three true road contests.
ACC RANKS
Mosley finished the season ranked third in the ACC in digs with 4.21 per frame.
Jackson finished the season ranked seventh in the ACC in assists per set with 8.84.
THE FUTURE
In the 2019 season, Virginia Tech had a roster of five freshmen and four sophomores. Looking ahead, the underclassmen will play a significant role in the 2020 season, as seniors Abby McKinzie and Ester Talamazzi's storied careers have come to an end.
Tech's freshmen were vital contributors to the 2019 team. Zier finished the season with 163 kills and 81 blocks, Powell recorded 257 kills and 72 digs and Mosley scooped up 507 digs and had a team-high 27 aces.
The Hokies add a new freshman class that includes right-side hitter Emily Campe, setter Brie Postema and middle blocker Kirah Johnson to the 2020 roster.