Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG - The Hokies (5-4) topped the Mocs (8-5) in four sets at Cassell Coliseum on Thursday night.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hokies traded points with the Mocs early in set one, with Belle Patrick leading the squad with four kills and a block solo, only to trail mid-set and fall 19-25 in the match-opener.
Early in set two, the two squads paced each other, until Tech jumped out to an eight-point advantage late in the set, to capture the win 25-15 with the help of two four-point service runs. Pearce led the offense with five kills while Patrick and Robinson collected four apiece. Mangual Duran led the backrow efforts with five digs and Viktoria Wahlgren secured four.
Set three was a battle, as the Hokies and Mocs traded points the entirety of the set, with nine tie scores and four lead changes. Eventually, thanks to five kills from Sarah Malinowski, nine digs from Mangual Duran and 17 assists from Wahlgren, the Hokies captured the third, 25-22.
The fourth was a dominant showing for Tech, as Robinson tackled a seven-point service run mid-set to help the Hokies to an 11-point advantage and the squad never looked back, limiting the Mocs to just 11 points total in set four.
GAME NOTES
- Four Hokies reached double-digit kills in the match with Belle Patrick leading at 15, Hailey Pearce collecting 13 and two Hokies reaching career-highs. Sarah Malinowski secured a career-high of 11 and Jasmine Robinson boasted a career-high of 10 with a .625 clip on no errors.
- Leandra Mangual Duran had an active night in the back row with a Tech career-high of 20 digs, the highest of an individual in a match so far this season. Mangual Duran also recorded one kill, one ace and three assists in the libero jersey.
- Viktoria Wahlgren recorded a season-high 45 assists, averaging 11.25 per set with four kills.
- Patrick and Malinowski notched block solos against the Mocs, the first of the season for each.
- Robinson dished a career-high three service aces in the match, followed by Aisha Keric and Patrick with two apiece. Mangual Duran, Pearce and Sierra Cates also collected one ace each.
- The Hokies totaled a season-high 62 kills and 55 assists in the match with 10 aces, 60 digs and eight total blocks.
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech will face Rider at 6 p.m. on Friday night on Carilion Court in Cassell Coliseum for the final match in the Virginia Tech Invitational.