Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG - The Hokies (6-4) topped the Broncs (1-10) in a four-set match in Cassell Coliseum on Friday night. The squad collected four career-highs and advanced to 1-0 in the series history with Rider.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set one opened with an even stretch. Both squads went point for point until the Broncs gained a six-point advantage heading into the backhalf of the match opener. The Hokies were down 13-19 but battled back to a 25-23 set win.
Set two followed in the early fashion of set one for the entirety of the match, with the squads trading serving rights and points into extras. Tech was able to capture the two set advantage after a block solo and two assists apiece for Jordan Hallman and Sarah Malinowski and four kills from Pearce.
The squads paced each other into set three, with Rider developing a late advantage the Hokies couldn't recover, sending the match to 2-1 after a 21-25 set three.
Set four saw nine tie scores and two lead changes before the Hokies were able to jump out to a seven-point advantage after a series that led to 10 block assists in the set. Leandra Mangual Duran led the back row efforts with six digs and nine perfect receptions to capture set four 25-18 and secure the match victory.
GAME NOTES
- The Hokies combined for 28 block assists against the Broncs with five individuals tallying multiple, to accumulate the most block assists in a match since 42 vs. West Virginia in 2001.
- Jasmine Robinson dished a career-high seven service aces to put herself tied for fourth in the single-match record for aces. Robinson also tallied nine kills and four block assists.
- Jordan Hallman boasted a career-high 10 block assists in the match with one block solo to average 2.75 blocks per set.
- Leandra Mangual Duran saw 25 perfect receptions with 14 digs, averaging 3.5 per set.
- Hailey Pearce elevated her career-high for kills to 17 and her block assists career-high to seven with an additional nine digs.
- Sarah Malinowski collected 10 kills with four block assists and one solo.
- Tech totaled 43 kills, 37 assists, 49 digs, 28 block assists, two block solos and nine aces.
UP NEXT
The Hokies open ACC action on the road at NC State on September 27 and Wake Forest on September 29.