1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tennessee (7-2) | 20 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Virginia Tech (5-4) | 25 | 21 | 16 | 17 | 1 |
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BLACKSBURG, Va. – In an intense match from the start, the Virginia Tech volleyball team came up just short, falling to the Tennessee Lady Vols, 3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 25-16, 25-17) in the final match of the Hokie Invite Saturday night at Cassell Coliseum. The Lady Vols were led by Tournament MVP Kelsey Robinson, who tallied 24 kills and 16 digs, while Tech’s Justine Record made it five double-doubles on the season with 11 kills and 11 digs.
The Hokies (5-4) got out to a commanding start, sparking a 3-0 lead to begin play but the Lady Vols (7-2) came back to tie things up early on. After breaking away from a nine-all tie, Tech never looked back, quickly distancing itself from the Lady Vols and eventually taking the set 25-20. The Hokies took the kills edge in the set, 14-11, and held Tennessee to a .167 hitting percentage while they hit at a .480 clip.
Tech began the second set with an impressive 5-1 run, but in the true fashion of the evening, the Lady Vols worked their way back into it and tied things up at eight apiece. Back-and-forth play would ensue from there, though Tech kept the advantage in its favor for the majority of the set. After a kill from Tennessee’s Robinson to break up a 21-all tie, the Lady Vols would not allow another Tech point and put up four in a row of their own to close out the second set, 25-21.
Play was close to start the third set as both teams teetered with the lead, but this time there was no large deficit for the Lady Vols to overcome. They broke a 9-9 tie and controlled the momentum from there. Continuously extending its lead, Tennessee quickly claimed the set by a score of 25-16.
Tennessee carried the third-set momentum into the fourth as it took command early in the set. The difference was eventually too much for the Hokies to overcome, despite a late effort. The Lady Vols put an end to the Hokie Tournament and sealed the 3-1 victory with a 25-17 win in the fourth.
The Lady Vols held the attacking advantage with a 64-42 kills edge, but the Hokies did come away with the defensive edge, tallying seven total blocks in the match, compared to Tennessee’s five.
Tech freshman Jordan Fish tallied a career-high 19 assist in the match, while Mary Pollmiller tossed up 53 on the evening.
An All-Tournament team was named for the Hokie Invite and Robinson was joined by Tennessee teammates Pollmiller and Dee Dee Harrison. Tech’s Record and Cara Baarendse were also named to the squad, along with American’s Morgan Hendrix and Seton Hall’s Shelby Manthorpe.
Tech will return to action as it hosts its third and final tournament of the season next weekend. Play at the Hilton Garden Hokie Invitational will begin on Friday, Sept. 16 and Tech will take on in-state rival Virginia at 7 p.m.
For updates on Virginia Tech volleyball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_VBall).