BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech volleyball team heads to the Chattanooga Classic this weekend for another three-match tournament. The Hokies start the Classic on Friday at 3 p.m. against Troy and resume on Saturday with their first match of the day at noon against Chattanooga. Tech's final game of the tournament will take place at 5 p.m. against Tennessee Tech.
THINGS TO KNOW
Scouting Troy
The Trojans are going into the tournament with a 2-3 record after a weekend spent at the Crimson Tide Invitational where they went 1-2. Troy beat host Alabama 3-1 and fell short to Southern Miss 3-1 and Buffalo 3-2. Following the weekend, Amara Anderson and Julia Brooks earned Sun Belt Player of the Week honors. Anderson was named setter of the tournament, ending the weekend with 147 assists over three matches, averaging 11.3 assists per set. She is currently the Sun Belt leader with 211 assists and ranks 12th nationally with over 11 assists per set. Brooks led the Trojans in all three offensive categories over the weekend, totaling 48 kills, 51.5 points and a hitting percentage of .419.
Scouting Chattanooga
The Mocs sit at 3-4 on the season, playing in the Georgia State Invitational and the Hampton Inn Invitational hosted by IUPUI. Chattanooga went 2-1 in Indianapolis, defeating IUPUI 3-1 and Western Illinois 3-2, and falling to Toledo 3-2. Maia Rackel was named SoCon Offensive Player of the Week after her weekend in Indy where she posted 77 kills over four matches, averaging 4.53 kills per set and a .317 hitting percentage.
Scouting Tennessee Tech
Sitting at 3-2 on the season, the Golden Eagles most recently hosted the Golden Eagle Invitational, finishing the weekend 2-1. Tennessee Tech posted wins against South Alabama 3-2 and UNC Asheville 3-0, and fell to Valparaiso 3-2. Tennessee Tech's Madolyn Isringhausen currently leads the team with 77 kills and 90 points over five matches. Defensively, McKenna Young leads the Golden Eagles with 85 digs and 4.24 digs per set. A player to look out for is Ashely Hand as she ranks first on the team with 206 assists, registering 10.30 assists per set
Eyes on Robinson
Angel Robinson had a career-high day against Davidson, posting 15 kills and 19 points, both career-highs for the senior. Robinson also posted one ace and six blocks which ties another career-high. Over the weekend, the middle blocker totaled 12 blocks and a .405 hitting percentage, a team-high. Robinson ended the weekend with three total aces and seven digs.
Spreading the Love
Virginia Tech has had a different starting rotation for the majority of its matches, with many familiar faces and a few newcomers. Fifteen different members of the squad have seen action so far this season, including three freshmen. Four Hokies have seen the floor for every set so far which includes Angel Robinson, Marisa Cerchio, Mara Perry, and Logan Mosley. Fifth year Cerchio leads the Hokies in points with 65.5. Not too far behind her is Robinson with 64 points.
Assist Leaders
The Hokies have been using three different setters this season, with Perry, Jackson and Brie Postema each working into the rotation. Perry currently leads the team in assists with 91 as she has played in all 27 sets this season. Jackson is the team-leader in assists per set with 4.78, she has played in 18 sets and tallied 86 assists. Postema has played in 16 sets, registering 76 assists and 4.75 assists per set.
UP NEXT
Following the Chattanooga Classic, the Hokies will head back home to host the Hokie Invite on Friday, Sept. 17 and Saturday, Sept. 18. The Hokies will take on George Mason first on Friday at Noon, followed by Wofford at 7 p.m. Tech finishes the Invite on Saturday at 3 p.m. against North Carolina A&T
