A volleyball player in a white jersey with maroon sleeves celebrates with an open-mouthed yell on the court, while teammates look on.A volleyball player in a white jersey with maroon sleeves celebrates with an open-mouthed yell on the court, while teammates look on.
Volleyball

Virginia Tech opens 2026 slate with victory over Kent State

Tech opened the season with a sweep to secure its first victory over Kent State

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BLACKSBURG, Va. — The Virginia Tech volleyball team opened the 2026 season Friday at the Hokie Invitational with a 3-0 (25-20, 26-24, 25-23) sweep of Kent State.

The first set opened with the teams trading points before Destiny Walker evened the score at 6-6 with a kill assisted by Camdynn Gonzalez. Walker then capitalized on two Kent State errors to give the Hokies a 7-6 lead. The Golden Flashes fought back to tie the set at 15-15 and took a 17-15 advantage before Tech broke away with a 7-0 run. Kills from Walker and Reese Hazelton, along with Kent State errors, helped the Hokies take a 22-18 lead and force a timeout. Tech returned to the court and closed the set with a service ace from Walker, a kill from Izzy Mishler and a block from Hazelton and Mishler to take the set, 25-20.

The Hokies carried the momentum into the second set, opening with a 5-0 run to take an early 5-2 lead. Adeline Hundl recorded her first kill of the season during the run, while Walker and Hazelton continued to provide offensive firepower. The teams battled through 10 ties before Hazelton's kill, assisted by Gonzalez, evened the score at 24-24. Walker followed with a service ace before Paloma Zubiri, assisted by Gonzalez, finished the set to give Tech a 26-24 victory.

Kent State opened the final set with a 3-0 run before the Hokies responded with five consecutive points to take an 8-7 lead. The Golden Flashes tied the score seven more times as the teams remained within one point of each other. With the set tied at 16-16, Hazelton sparked a 5-0 Tech run with her 13th kill of the match, assisted by Gonzalez, to give the Hokies a 21-16 advantage. Walker recorded her ninth kill of the match, assisted by Gonzalez, before Mishler, assisted by Camilla Brandalise, delivered the final point to secure the 25-23 set victory and complete the sweep.

Match Notes:

  • Friday's victory marked the first in program history for Virginia Tech over Kent State and evened the all-time series at 1-1. The teams had met once previously, with Kent State earning a 3-1 victory on Sept. 1, 1990, in Akron, Ohio.
  • Walker made her official Virginia Tech debut, starting and playing all three sets while recording nine kills, the second-highest total on the team.
  • Hazelton led the Hokies with 13 kills and added two service aces and 16.5 points.
  • Senior Setter Brandalise led the Hokies with 21 assists, while freshman setter Camdynn Gonzalez added 12 assists in her collegiate debut..

UP NEXT
The Hokies return to the court Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET to face William & Mary. The match will be streamed live on ACCNX.