Tweet

DURHAM, N.C. – The Virginia Tech volleyball team wrapped up its spring exhibition season this past weekend, playing four matches at Duke University. The Hokies went 3-1 on the weekend, defeating Liberty, VCU and North Carolina but falling to the host Blue Devils.

Underclassmen Cara Baarendse, Jennifer Wiker and Samantha Gostling were all very solid offensively, helping to lead the Hokies to a 2-0 sweep of North Carolina, who finished the 2010 regular season ranked 21^st nationally in the RPI.

“We finished the spring on a strong note,” said head coach Chris Riley. “We played well all spring and extremely well for a large portion of the spring. The team is taking the steps to move to the next level and we are focused and ready for next fall. We have a great group of young women who are all on the same page and the level of volleyball has been very high in our gym all spring.”

"The team as a whole has played at a high level all spring,” said junior setter Erin Leaser, “the highest during a spring season that I've been a part of. We all worked hard on and off the court and it has really paid off. We are looking forward to the fall season with a goal of surpassing where we finished in the NCAA tournament and final standings in the ACC."

The Hokies will kick off the 2011 season on Aug. 26-27, when they host Cleveland State, High Point and Indiana in the first of three home preseason tournaments. They will then travel to Kentucky on Sept 2-3, before returning home to host the Hokie Invite on Sept. 9-10 and the Hokie Invite on Sept. 16-17, opening the ACC season against Virginia on Sept. 16. The Hokies will then play exclusively ACC matches beginning with a home contest against Miami on Sept. 23.

For updates on Virginia Tech volleyball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_VBall).