Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – In their ACC opener, The Virginia Tech volleyball team came up short 3-1 against North Carolina on Thursday night in Blacksburg.
The Hokies (1-1, 0-1 ACC) could not get it done against the Tar Heels (1-0) in the first of two contests. Tech and UNC will meet again tomorrow night inside Cassell Coliseum for their second meeting of the year.
Despite the loss, the Hokies saw contributions from outside hitter Ashley Homan who recorded her first double-double as a Hokie with 15 kills and 11 digs. Graduate student Kaity Smith notched her 24th double-double of her career with 13 kills and 11 digs.
Freshman Brie Postema dished out 21 assists while sophomore Logan Mosley scooped up 11 digs to open ACC play.
The Tar Heels seeking revenge from their 3-2 loss to the Hokies in 2019, received big performances from junior Destiny Cox who tallied 12 kills and one block. The Tar Heels freshman Maylen Mitrovich dished out 23 assists along with eight digs.
THE GAME
In the first set, North Carolina held a small lead for most of the first and the Hokies even tied the match at 19-19. The Tar Heels had a late set push to garner the 25-22 success in the first.
The second stanza saw the Hokies come out on fire going up 6-2 early on. It was back and forth action all the way through until North Carolina led 24-23 late. The Hokies scored three straight to claim the set 26-24 and even the match 1-1.
The Tar Heels jumped off quick in the third going up 9-3. North Carolina would not look back as they would lead the rest of the stanza and go on to claim the set 25-15.
The fourth was a barn-burner early on as the Hokies and Tar Heels traded points and sat even at 6-6. The Tar Heels got into a rhythm midway through and went up 20-13. It was all North Carolina from that point on as they took the fourth 25-20 and won the match.
MATCH NOTES
- Outside hitter Homan registered her first double-double as a Hokie with 15 kills and 11 digs.
- Graduate student Smith notched her 24th double-double of her career with 13 kills and 11 digs.
- Freshman Postema tallied 21 assists marking her second straight game with 20 or more assists.
- Sophomore Logan Mosley recorded her first double-digit dig performance of the season with 11 digs.
UP NEXT
The Hokies will face off against the Tar Heels for their second straight contest on Friday at 5 p.m. ET at Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum on the ACC Network Extra.
Gallery: (9-24-2020) 2020 VOLLEYBALL vs. NORTH CAROLINA