BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech volleyball team hits the road again to take on Wake Forest Thursday at 6 p.m., followed by a Sunday match in Raleigh against Duke. First serve is set for 1 p.m.
THINGS TO KNOW
Scouting Wake Forest
The Demon Deacons enter Thursday's match with a 12-11 overall record and a 3-9 ACC record after splitting last weekend's matches. Wake Forest fell to No. 4 Pitt 3-0 on Friday but bounced back to take a 3-0 win over Virginia on Sunday. Wake Forest is coming in strong offensively, outhitting opponents with a .239 hitting percentage compared to .216 by opponents. On the defensive end, the Demon Deacons have recorded 1,061 digs (12.9 per set) vs. 998 from opponents (12.2 per set). Starter Kamryn Malloy leads the team with 4.04 points per set, recording 291 kills and 3.55 kills per set. Andrea Fuentes holds one of the best hitting percentages on the team and has also been the primary setter for Wake Forest, with 10.05 assists per set. Defensively, Wake Forest has 190 total blocks with 2.32 per set.
Scouting Duke
The Blue Devils host Wake Forest on Friday before welcoming the Hokies to Durham on Sunday. Duke is currently 13-10 overall with a 4-8 clip in ACC play after defeating Notre Dame 3-2 last Friday, followed by a loss to No. 2 Louisville (3-1) on Sunday. Duke is currently ranked first in the ACC in aces per set, averaging 1.68, and leading the conference in total aces, recording 135. Gracie Johnson and Mackenzie Cole play key roles in Duke's success at the service line. Johnson leads the ACC with 34 aces while Cole is second in the conference with 33. The offensive leader for Duke, Ade Owokoniran, leads the team with 3.51 points per set and 3.18 kills per set. Defensively, Cole leads the conference in digs per set with 4.30, and is second in the ACC for total digs, tallying 344.
Outlasted the 'Hoos
The Hokies recorded their first ACC win of the season against Virginia last Friday, outlasting the 'Hoos in five sets 22-25, 25-18, 25-17, 28-30, 16-14. Tech had one of its best matches offensively in conference play, hitting .222 over the five sets. Cera Powell played a key role in the attack for Tech, recording 17 kills which tied her career-high she set in 2019. The junior hit .191 on the night and added seven digs. Brie Postema had a career-high 47 assists while Logan Mosley and Mara Perry held down the back row, recording 15 and 12 digs, respectively. Friday's win marked the Hokies third straight win over rival Virginia.
Talyn on the Block
Setter Talyn Jackson has been big at the net recently for the Hokies, making her presence known on the block as well as assisting the attackers. Back in the starting rotation against Louisville, Jackson recorded four total blocks against the No. 2 Cardinals. She followed that up with a block against Notre Dame the next match. This past weekend against Pitt, the senior recorded a season-high five total blocks, including a solo block and four block assists. The Hokies had 13 total blocks against No. 4 Pitt, compared to only six by the Panthers. Jackson tied Angel Robinson for the team-high in blocks. Marisa Cerchio also added three.
UP NEXT
The Hokies return home to Blacksburg for a single-match weekend where they face North Carolina on November 12 at 4 p.m. Friday's match will also be Tech's senior night where seven Hokies will be honored.