Soundbites: ACC Tipoff Press Conference

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Virginia Tech women's basketball traveled south for the league's media day, ACC Tipoff, and made its way to the main stage on Wednesday. As the inaugural season with head coach Megan Duffy at the helm quickly approaches, ACC Tipoff provides an inside look at the new look program. During the trip to Charlotte, North Carolina, Coach Duffy is accompanied by student-athletes Matilda Ekh, Rose Micheaux and Carleigh Wenzel. Dive into what the team had to say during its press conference by reading and watching below:

Head Coach Megan Duffy

Opening Statement:
"This is just an exciting day. I can't tell you how thrilled I am to be the new women's basketball coach here at Tech. Obviously, I got three amazing upperclassmen and women in front of me who are going to be the spearheads of what we do this year. I think with the change that's happened over the last six months we've really kind of been focused in on establishing our culture, really setting the tone of who we want to be identity-wise. This group here, along with a few others, have just been instrumental in keeping this group together and allowing a new coaching staff to come in and just be a small piece of the bigger picture of what they're about to be. I am just really looking forward to more practices. As a coach knows, we always want more practices. I'm sure they're looking forward to playing. I think this is going to be a group that's going to be extremely hungry, and you're going to see the best version of ourselves continue to build as we move forward."

On players that will have impactful roles:
"Yeah, there's more than just one, but I would start with Lani White. She's a transfer from Utah. Three-level scorer. Really long on the perimeter. She can get deflections. She can impact a game on the defensive side. She's coming into a new role being more of a scorer. Really excited just to see her develop. Then we have a really good sophomore group. Samyha Suffren, Carys Baker and Mackenzie Nelson have a year of college basketball experience. To put them in new roles, they're versatile. They're really hungry to improve. That will be the key to our success, how quickly we can develop our players."

Forward Rose Micheaux

On the gameday environment created by fans in Blacksburg:
"I would say what makes it so special is the loyalty that they have. Just the fact that you can walk into Cassell, and it can be 90 minutes on the clock or seven, it doesn't matter. You're going to see fans pouring in from any and every entrance. They come with a smile on their face, and the fact that they're consistent with the energy that they bring and how upbeat they are, it really pours into how we do on the court."

G/F Matilda Ekh

On changes to the team's identity compared to last season:
"I think one thing we're going to do this year is push the pace. We're going to run in transition and play together, move the ball. We're going to have a lot of people involved on offense and defense just playing together and playing hard."

Guard Carleigh Wenzel

On what the conference slogan "accomplish greatness" means to her:
"I would say just pouring into each other. I say we can't do anything we do without the person next to us. So, continuing to be great together, consistently on a day-to-day basis, whether that be in practice, off the court, whatever it may be. If we don't do it together, it's not going to get done."