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BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech volleyball team is set to travel to Athens, Ohio for the Baymont Inn & Suites Invitational hosted by Ohio University beginning Friday, Sept. 5. Joining the Hokies and Bobcats for the two-day event are VCU and Texas A&M.

Tech will open the tournament on Friday at 4 p.m. against VCU. The Hokies will play Texas A&M on Saturday at 10 a.m. before taking on the host-team that night in a 7 p.m. match.

THE HOKIES (1-2)
Virginia Tech opened the season at the Bluegrass Battle hosted by the University of Kentucky. The Hokies claimed a win over Wichita State during the event, but fell to Butler and the then 19th-ranked Wildcats. Lindsey Owens was named to the All-Tournament team after averaging 3.18 kills, including a career-high 18 against the Bulldogs, and 2.82 digs per set.

Amanda McKinzie is adding tallying 2.63 kps while Kathryn Caine is posting 2.36 kps. Jordan Fish and freshman Kyra Coundourides split time in the setter spot last weekend, averaging 6.73 and 5.27 assists per set, respectively.

On the defensive side, Megan Beckwith is notching 3.27 digs per set in the backcourt with Ashley Battle recording 1.18 blocks at the net.

THE RAMS (1-2)
VCU opened the season at the Colorado State Invitational, falling to No. 18 Colorado State and Marquette before claiming a 3-1 win over UC Santa Barbara.

Jessica Young leads VCU in the early season, averaging 2.6 kps while Kalah Jones is tallying 2.33 kps. Janelle Sykes has been strong on both sides of the ball, recording 2.0 kps while notching a team-high 1.2 bps. Cecilia Aragao has recorded 8.1 aps and Mary Kilbane leads the backline with 3.8 dps.

THE AGGIES (2-1)
Texas A&M won its own invitational to open the weekend, defeating Iowa and Tulane with scores of 3-0. In the final match of the tournament the Aggies fell to UTSA 3-2.

The Aggies have five players averaging two or more kills per set with Angela Lowak recording 2.64. Shelby Sullivan and Ashlie Reasor are recording 2.55 and 2.36 kps, respectively. Sullivan and Reasor are also strong on the block with each recording at least one per set. Kaysie Shebeneck is putting up 9.0 aps and Victoria Arenas is posting 4.18 dps.

THE BOBCATS (1-2)
Ohio opened the season at the Rainbow Wahine Invitational in Honolulu, Hawaii where the Bobcats faced a pair of top-25 teams. The Bobcats fell to No. 17 Hawaii and No. 25 Arizona State, but secured a 3-1 win over San Diego State.

Kelly Lamberti leads the team with 3.92 kps while Jaime Kosiorek is knocking down 2.25. Abby Gilleland is putting up 8.25 aps. Defensively, the Bobcats are led by Meredith Ashy in the backcourt with 4.42 dps and Karin Bull on the front line with 1.17 bps.

ALL-TIME vs. THE FIELD
The Hokies lead the all-time series against VCU, 19-8. The two teams last met in 2007 when Tech claimed the 3-1 win at home.

This will be the first meeting for the Hokies and Aggies in 20 years. Tech took the win in 1994 in the only previous meeting between the two teams.

Ohio leads the series against the Hokies, 3-0. The Bobcats won 3-2 in 2011 in a neutral site match in Lexington, Ky. No current Hokies appeared in the match, but Lamberti tallied 12 kills for the Bobcats.

UP NEXT
Tech will remain on the road for its third tournament of the season, traveling to Murfreesboro, Tenn. for the Blue Raider Bash hosted by Middle Tennessee, Sept. 11-13.

For updates on Virginia Tech volleyball, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_VBall