Hokie ClubCHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The Virginia Tech volleyball team (9-10, 1-7 ACC) fell to Virginia (10-8, 3-5 ACC) in straight sets (25-19, 25-21, 25-20) on Sunday at John Paul Jones Arena in the second leg of the Smithfield Commonwealth Clash.
The Hokies (11-10, 1-9 ACC) opened strong with a 4-0 run in the first set but ultimately couldn’t hold the momentum. Virginia (9-12, 2-8 ACC) responded, tying the set at 14-14 before pulling away to claim the opener 25-19. Ainsley Ranstead led the Hokies with five kills in the set, hitting .308. Isabella Mishler and Ivy Cooper each contributed a service ace, while Mishler added two blocks, including one assist with Reese Hazelton.
The second set featured six ties, with Virginia taking a 7-7 tie and going on a 4-0 run to force a Hokies timeout. Tech answered with a 4-0 run of its own to knot it at 11-11. Payton Woods delivered key kills to keep the set within reach, but the Cavaliers closed strong to take the set 25-21.
In the final frame, Mishler continued to shine, going 5-for-5 on attacks for a 1.000 hitting percentage. She also added two blocks, finishing the day with seven total. Despite seven ties and three lead changes in the third set, Virginia again pulled away after a 14-14 tie to win 25-20 and secure the sweep.
With the win, the Cavaliers earned half a point in the Smithfield Commonwealth Clash, extending their lead to 2.5–0.5 in the rivalry series. More information on the series can be found at hokiesports.com/commonwealth-clash.
Up Next
Virginia Tech continues its road swing next weekend with two ACC matches. The Hokies face Miami on Friday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m., followed by a matchup at Florida State on Sunday, Oct. 26 at 1 p.m. Both matches will stream live on ACCNX.
Match Notes
- Isabella Mishler led the Hokies with eight kills, seven blocks, and one service ace, hitting .429 on the day.
- Payton Woods recorded eight kills, two digs, and one block.
- Camilla Brandalise tallied 17 assists, one service ace, and six digs.