1 | 2 | 3 | F | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Virginia Tech (8-7) | 25 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
Boston College (5-10) | 27 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
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CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Unable to find its momentum, the Virginia Tech volleyball team fell to the Boston College Eagles, 3-0, in its first conference road match of the season at Power Gym on the BC campus. Sophomore Samantha Gostling was the Hokies’ leader on offense as she neared a season high with 12 kills in the match. Tsvetelina Dureva paced the Eagles also with 12 kills, as she too was the only player on her team in double-figures.
The Eagles (5-10, 1-3 ACC) jumped out to an early lead to open the first set and kept the advantage for the majority of the set, though never extending their lead past three points until late. Tech (8-7, 1-3 ACC) used a 6-1 run towards the end of the game to tie things up at 20 apiece and took its first lead after a big kill from sophomore Victoria Hamsher. Close play would ensue as the two teams tied it at 21, 23, 24 and 25 before the Eagles took the opener, 27-25. Despite the outcome, Tech boasted the advantage at the net with five blocks, four of which came from redshirt junior Jennifer Wiker, while BC had none. Both teams tallied 16 kills in the opener.
It was the Hokies with the hot start in the second set, but they eventually turned it over and allowed BC to steal the momentum. The Eagles took off after breaking an early tie and never looked back, eventually earning the 2-0 advantage with a 25-18 victory in the second set. BC took the kills edge, 14-11, as six of those came from Dureva.
After the break, the two teams entered the third set ready to battle as back-and-forth play began the set. Tech jumped out to a slight lead until numerous lead changes took over after an 11-all tie. BC rallied to break the 15-15 tie and distanced itself after earning the next two points. The Eagles let the Hokies get close, but never gave up the advantage, and took the final set, 25-18. The kills edge was a bit more lopsided in the third set as BC saw the 15-6 advantage. The Eagles also stepped things up at the net with five blocks, compared to Tech’s two.
BC’s Kellie Bartman set up 34 assists in the match, while Tech senior Erin Leaser tallied 25. Tech Hokies excelled at the net as Hamsher, Wiker and junior Cara Baarendse each got up for a team-leading four total blocks in the match.
Tech will look to bounce back as it returns to the court on Sunday, Oct. 2 to take on Maryland on the road at 2 p.m.
For updates on Virginia Tech volleyball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_VBall).