Hokie ClubROME, Ga. — The Hokies win the 2026 NIT Championship in exciting fashion over North Alabama, 4-2.
With a 3-2 lead and two three-set matches remaining, Blake Hilsen clinched the match with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 victory.
Hilsen won the NIT Championship MVP award after a 4-0 undefeated run in the tournament and winning the clinching match in both victories.
The Hokies took the doubles point to open the match, starting with a win from Hilsen and Eyal Shumilov, 6-2. With the doubles point evened up, Ilyas Fahim and Patrik Jurina combined to win a tiebreaker 7-6 (6) to clinch the doubles point on Court No. 2.
Moving into singles, the Hokies and Lions were evenly split across first sets. Freshman Drew Fishback tallied the Hokies' second point of the match, breaking his opponent’s serve to a 6-1, 6-3 victory.
Fahim rounded out an undefeated week, notching a win on Court No. 1 for his third victory of the week, 6-4, 6-3.
Leading 3-2, the Hokies had to take one-of-two remaining courts that were in the third set. After dropping the first set, Thomás Brandão battled to force a third set.
Hilsen regained control in the third set after falling in the second, winning his match to propel Virginia Tech to victory.