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BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech volleyball team will take to the road to compete in the Active Ankle Challenge hosted by Louisville, Sept. 20-21. Tech will face Rice at 3 p.m. during the opening day of competition at Cardinal Arena.

The Hokies enter the weekend with the best overall record, sitting at 10-1. Louisville is 2-6 while Bowling Green and Rice are 2-7 and 3-7, respectively. Tech will face Bowling Green on Saturday at 10 a.m., before taking on Louisville in the night match at 7:30 p.m.

Virginia Tech is coming off a 3-0 win over Duquesne. The victory helped to secure the Hokie Classic title for Tech as the Hokies went 3-0 on the weekend.

Lindsey Owens was named the ACC Freshman of the Week after leading Tech on the offensive side with 3.10 kills per set. The Orlando, Fla. native also tallied 20 digs, seven blocks and recorded nine aces.

Senior Samantha Gostling leads the Hokies on the season with 3.29 kps, while Owens is adding 2.92. Kathryn Caine is posting 2.53 kps and Victoria Hamsher is notching 2.17. Jordan Fish ranks second in the ACC in assists with 10.70 per game.

On the defensive side, LaTasha Samson-Akpan is strong on the block, averaging 1.45 per set to rank third in the conference. Megan Beckwith is putting up 3.84 digs per set.

The Owls fell to NC State, 3-1 the last time out. Jillian Humphrey is leading Rice on both the offensive and defensive side with 3.15 kps and 1.25 bps. Stephanie Mendivil is adding 2.63 kps while Tyler Jenkins tallies 2.22 kps. The Owls split time in the setter position with Sara Blasier notching 9.04 aps and Megan Murphy adding 7.82 aps. Daniela Arenas is playing well defensively, notching 3.95 digs per set.

Tech and Rice last met in 1990 when the Owls secured the 3-0 win over the Hokies.

Bowling Green downed Youngstown State, 3-0 in the team’s last outing. Paige Penrod leads the Falcons with 3.45 kps on the season, while Lindsey Butterfield is adding 2.94. Erica Fullencamp is tallying 7.74 aps. On the defensive side, Kaitlyn Skinner is knocking back 1.41 bps while Ashley Dunn is recording 4.45 dps.

The Falcons are 1-0 against the Hokies all-time, with BGSU picking up the 3-1 win in 1992.

For Louisville, this marks the first home weekend since the start of the 2013 season. The Cardinals dropped a 3-1 decision to Pepperdine in their last match.

Maya McClendon leads UL on the season with 2.81 kps while Emily Juhl is adding 2.70. Janelle Jenkins rounds out the top three attackers with 2.41 kps. Katie George is putting up 7.37 aps. Defensively, Caitlin Welch is getting under 3.96 dps and Randi Ewing is recording 0.74 bps.

Of the teams competing this weekend, the Hokies have the longest history with the Cardinals, as Louisville holds a 17-3 advantage, dating back to when the two teams both competed in the Metro Conference. Louisville won the last meeting between the two teams, 3-0, back in 1994.

The weekend’s matches will wrap-up Tech’s non-conference slate for the 2013 season. However, the Hokies will remain on the road to open up ACC play next weekend, as they travel to Wake Forest and Duke.

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