Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. -- The Virginia Tech volleyball team took down Wake Forest in a 3-0 sweep (25-23, 25-15, 25-17) Wednesday at home at Cassell Coliseum. Tech hit .353 over three sets, tied with its best hitting percentage so far this season. The previous mark was set in a 3-0 sweep of Boston College on September 30.
The Hokies offense was paced by Cera Powell, who finished with 17 kills on the day while accumulating a hitting percentage of .375, and by freshman Sarah Malinowski, who had 10 while hitting .615. Both the 10 kills and the .615 hitting percentage from Malinowski are career highs in her young career. Defensively, the Hokies had three players reach double figures in digs, including Hanna Borer's 10, 10 from Logan Mosley, and 10 more from Maddie Slagle. Borer posted her second double-double in three matches, adding 39 assists to lead Tech.
Game Notes
» Virginia Tech had three players in double figures in digs.
» Sierra Cates had a match-high three aces in the win.
» Virginia Tech never trailed on the way to winning the third set 25-17.
» Cera Powell had a match-high 17 kills for Virginia Tech.
» Virginia Tech attackers were helped by a match-high 39 assists from Hanna Borer.
How It Happened
The Hokies opened the match hot, taking a 9-3 lead capped off by a Wake Forest attack error. Tech continued to lead until the Demon Deacons used a 4-0 run to come within one at 16-15. The Hokies held on, taking the first set 25-23 after an ace from Powell and a kill from Malinowski gave the Hokies set point. Offensively, Tech had 17 kills in the first set, led by seven from Powell. The Hokie defense also added 15 digs and two blocks.
Virginia Tech won the second set 25-15 to quickly jump to a 2-0 lead. The Hokies had control of the set, propelled by a strong performance on the attacking side. Virginia Tech put together a .552 attack percentage with 17 kills in the set win. The .552 hitting percentage was a match-high for the night. The Hokies opened up a 23-11 lead in the set and kept up the momentum to take the win. The Virginia Tech offense also got a boost from three aces in the stanza. Malinowski hit .750 in the second set with three kills.
Virginia Tech finished off the match in a 3-0 sweep after winning set three. The Hokies took a 1-0 lead and never looked back in the set to earn a 25-17 victory. Virginia Tech ended on a high note, claiming its biggest lead, eight points, to finish off the set, collecting 15 kills in the process. Powell led the offense with five kills in the set and Ava Francis chipped in four. Powell also had six digs in the set to help out the defense. The Hokie defense held Wake Forest under a .300 hitting percentage all night, keeping them at a .167 in the first set.
The Hokies return to Cassell on Friday, taking on Duke at 6 p.m.
Support Virginia Tech volleyball by making a Pledge Per Set Win today.
Gallery: (11-2-2022) VB: Wake Forest Match