Hokie ClubNotre Dame, Ind. – Isabella Mishler recorded a team-high six blocks and added nine kills in Virginia Tech’s 3-1 loss to Notre Dame on Sunday. The Hokies move to 9-8 on the season.
Mishler started all four sets for Tech, posting an efficient .533 hitting percentage to go along with nine kills, two service aces, three digs, and the team-leading six blocks.
Reese Hazelton also played a key role for the Hokies with a team-high 11 kills, five digs, and two blocks.
Notre Dame came out firing, opening the match with a 5-0 run to take a 7-3 lead. The Hokies capitalized on Irish errors and got a kill and block from Mishler to cut the deficit to 8-7. However, a second 5-0 run by the Irish pushed the score to 16-9, and they never looked back, closing out the first set 25-14.
Virginia Tech bounced back in the second set with steady offense and key defensive plays. Tied at 8-8 early on, the Hokies went on a 3-0 run to take an 11-8 lead, forcing a Notre Dame timeout. A late kill by Ainsley Ranstead tied the set at 23-23, and Virginia Tech clinched the set following an Irish attack error, winning 25-23.
The third set remained close despite Notre Dame jumping out to a 3-0 lead. Virginia Tech battled back to within 10-9 on a kill by Payton Woods. The Hokies trailed 20-15 before a 4-0 run sparked by a timeout narrowed the gap to 21-19. A clutch service ace by Mishler leveled the score at 23-23, and Hazelton added another kill to tie it at 24-24. But the Irish held on to win the set 26-24.
The final set featured 11 ties and four lead changes. After trailing 3-0, Tech fought back to tie the score at 6-6. With the Irish leading 19-17, Notre Dame used a 3-0 run to extend the margin. Virginia Tech answered with a 3-0 spurt of its own to pull within two, but Notre Dame sealed the match with a bad set by Tech and two kills to close it out 25-21.
Up Next
Virginia Tech returns home to Cassell Coliseum on Wednesday for the Smithfield Commonwealth Clash, hosting in-state rival Virginia at 6 p.m. The match will stream live on ACCNX.
Match Notes:
- Isabella Mishler: nine kills (.533), six blocks (career high), three digs, 2 aces
- Reese Hazelton: 11 kills, five digs, two blocks
- Payton Woods: nine kills, two digs, two blocks
- Ainsley Ranstead: seven kills, one ace, three blocks
- Brianna Holladay: five kills, three blocks