Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG — Virginia Tech volleyball battled back from an early deficit in the fifth set to earn a 3-2 (25-23, 22-25, 25-19, 16-25, 15-12) victory over Notre Dame on Friday night at Cassell Coliseum.
The Hokies opened the match with a back-and-forth first set, featuring 13 ties and seven lead changes. After Notre Dame took a 21-18 advantage late in the frame, Tech responded with a 7-2 run to close out the set. A kill from Destiny Walkerand a pair of Notre Dame attack errors helped the Hokies regain the lead before Izzy Mishler delivered a kill to put Tech at set point. Another Notre Dame attack error sealed the 25-23 victory.
Notre Dame responded in the second set, taking a 25-22 win to even the match at one set apiece. The Hokies stayed within reach throughout the frame, but the Fighting Irish used a late push to create separation. Reese Hazelton led Tech in the second set with five kills, while Adeline Hundl added four.
Tech responded in the third set, taking control behind a strong offensive showing. After the teams traded points early, the Hokies used a 5-0 run to build a 10-6 advantage. Hazelton and Walker helped fuel the run with kills, while Mishler contributed at the net. Virginia Tech continued to extend its lead, reaching a 19-12 advantage before closing out the set, 25-19, to take a 2-1 match lead. The Hokies recorded 16 kills while hitting .294 in the frame.
The Hokies kept the fourth set competitive early, with kills from Hazelton and Hundl helping Virginia Tech stay within reach. Notre Dame, however, built its advantage behind a strong offensive showing, recording 20 kills and hitting .375 to take the set, 25-16, and force a deciding fifth set.
In the deciding set, Notre Dame opened with a 3-0 advantage before Walker sparked the Hokies' response with a kill. Georgia Trexler and Hazelton followed with kills to help Tech take a 4-3 lead. The Hokies continued to build momentum, with Hazelton adding a service ace and Walker recording back-to-back kills to extend the advantage to 11-7. Hazelton added another ace to put Tech up 12-7. Notre Dame fought back to cut the deficit to 14-12, but a service error handed the Hokies the final point and a 15-12 fifth-set victory.
Up Next
Tech returns to Cassell Coliseum on Sunday to host No. 3 Louisville at 1 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
Match Notes
- Reese Hazelton led the Hokies with 17 kills and 14 digs, recording her seventh double-double of the season. She also added three service aces.
- Destiny Walker tallied 13 kills and 12 digs for her sixth double-double of the season.
- Adeline Hundl finished with 12 kills, two service aces and a .250 hitting percentage.
- Camilla Brandalise dished out a season-best 49 assists and added 13 digs.
- Izzy Mishler recorded six kills on a .500 hitting percentage and added three block assists.
- Virginia Tech finished with 59 kills, 69 digs and six service aces.
- The Hokies improved to 5-8 in conference play, and 8-14 overall.