Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG — The Virginia Tech volleyball team defeated Virginia, 3-0 (25-18, 25-11, 25-21), Friday night at Cassell Coliseum, snapping a nine-match losing streak against the Cavaliers and earning its first win over Virginia since the 2021 season.
The Hokies last defeated the Cavaliers in 2021, earning a 3-2 victory in Charlottesville. After falling to Virginia in four sets Wednesday night, Tech responded with a sweep Friday to earn a win in the Smithfield Commonwealth Clash series.
The Hokies opened the first set trading points with the Cavaliers before Virginia took a 9-6 lead. Tech responded to even the score at 9-9, with a pair of Virginia attack errors helping the Hokies regain momentum. Kills from Destiny Walker and Reese Hazelton helped Tech take an 11-10 lead before the Hokies extended their advantage with a 5-0 run. A service ace from Hazelton and a block by Frances Torres and Layla Moore helped Tech build separation. Torres added two kills late in the set as the Hokies closed out a 25-18 victory.
Virginia Tech carried its momentum into the second set, building an early 3-1 advantage. Kills from Walker, Torres and Hazelton helped the Hokies maintain control as the lead grew to 10-6. Tech continued to pull away behind a service ace from Camilla Brandalise and another ace from libero Ivy Cooper. The Hokies held Virginia to seven kills in the set while recording 14 of their own, hitting .444 as a team. Mishler added three kills in the frame, and Tech closed the set with a 25-11 win to take a 2-0 match lead.
The third set featured another back-and-forth battle, with Virginia opening a 4-1 advantage. Tech worked its way back into the set, evening the score at 6-6 before the teams continued to trade points. Torres delivered a service ace, while kills from Walker, Izzy Mishler and Hazelton helped the Hokies build a 17-14 lead. Torres and Walker continued to contribute offensively as Tech pushed its advantage to 21-16. The Cavaliers responded with a late run to pull within one at 22-21, but Torres recorded another kill before Brandalise served an ace. A Virginia attack error on the following point secured the 25-21 set victory and completed the sweep for the Hokies.
With the win, the Hokies earned half a point in the Smithfield Commonwealth Clash. The score for the Commonwealth Clash currently is 1.5-0.5 in favor of Virginia Tech. More information on the series can be found at hokiesports.com/commonwealth-clash.
Up Next
Tech hits the road to face Boston College on Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. ET before continuing north to take on Syracuse on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 1 p.m. ET. Both matches will be streamed live on ACCNX.
Match Notes:
- Torres led Virginia Tech with 13 kills, hitting .423, and added four digs, three block assists and a service ace.
- Walker recorded 10 kills, hitting .304, and added eight digs and two block assists.
- Mishler finished with eight kills on 10 attempts, hitting .800, and added two block assists.
- Hazelton recorded eight kills, 10 digs, a service ace and a block assist.
- Brandalise led the Hokies with 27 assists and added seven digs, two service aces and a team-high two service errors.
- Cooper led Virginia Tech with 11 digs and added four assists and a service ace.
- The Hokies recorded 40 kills, 32 assists, 45 digs, five service aces and six total team blocks.
- Virginia Tech improves to 5-12 overall and 2-6 in ACC play.