BLACKSBURG, VA --The Virginia Tech volleyball team fell to the East Carolina Pirates in five sets (25-20, 22-25, 25-19, 24-26, 10-15) Saturday afternoon on Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum, dropping its first match of the season. The Hokies are 10-1, heading into ACC play which begins next weekend in Blacksburg with matchups against Florida State and Miami.
The Hokies were led by a double-double from Elayna Duprey, who registered 19 kills and 15 digs on the day. Ava Francis also added 15 kills to help the attack. On the defensive end, Iliana Rodriguez chipped in for with 24 digs to go with four blocks from Cara Lewis.
Duprey was named to the All-Tournament Team following the match.
Game Notes
» Virginia Tech had three players in double figures in kills.
» Virginia Tech had four players in double figures in digs.
» Elayna Duprey had a team-high two aces in the loss.
» Elayna Duprey registered a double-double with 19 kills and 15 digs
» Elayna Duprey had a team-high 19 kills for Virginia Tech.
» Virginia Tech got a match-high 24 digs from Iliana Rodriguez.
» Virginia Tech attackers were helped by a match-high 52 assists from Hanna Borer. Those 52 assists represent a career high for the setter.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Hokies took control of the set-one lead at 4-3 and held the lead the rest of the way to win 25-20. Virginia Tech opened up its biggest lead, five points, to finish off the set.
SET 2 | Virginia Tech then fell in set two 25-22, evening the match at a set apiece. The Hokies fell in a back-and-forth set, losing in a stanza that featured five lead changes and was tied 10 times. Neither team led by more than three points along the way.
SET 3 | Virginia Tech then got back on the winning track, emerging victorious in set three and taking a two sets to one lead in the match. The Hokies won the set 25-19 powered by a solid performance on the attacking end. Virginia Tech registered a .394 attack percentage with 16 kills in the set win. The Hokies ended on a strong note, stretching their lead to its largest point in the set to finish out the stanza.
SET 4 | Virginia Tech couldn't finish off a four-set win as the Pirates forced a fifth set with a 26-24 victory. The Hokies fought back from a seven-point hole at 14-7, but it wasn't enough as East Carolina held on to win the set.
SET 5 | Virginia Tech and East Carolina went back and forth all match, trading wins in the first three sets until the Pirates took sets four and five, including winning the fifth set 15-10, and the match. The Hokies had a lead early in the set at 6-5 before East Carolina took over.
Gallery: (9-17-2023) VB: ECU Match