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BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech volleyball team returns to Cassell Coliseum to start a four-match home stand, beginning with Notre Dame on Friday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. followed by Clemson in a 1 p.m. match on Sunday, Oct. 26.

Friday’s match is the Hokies PINK! Fight Cancer! match and fans are encouraged to wear pink to the match in order to bring awareness to breast cancer.

THE HOKIES (8-12, 1-6 ACC)
Virginia Tech fell to fourth-ranked Florida State 3-1 (22-25, 17-25, 25-21, 23-25) the last time out. Kathryn Caine led all attackers with 12 kills while Kennedy Bryan added nine. Megan Beckwith recorded 14 digs and Ashley Battle had five blocks for the defensive side.

Lindsey Owens leads the Hokies on the season, averaging 3.30 kps. Caine is adding 2.37 kps while hitting .313 on the attack. Bryan is posting 2.03 kps. Jordan Fish and Kyra Coundourides are putting up 6.33 and 4.63 aps, respectively

On the defensive side, Beckwith leads in the backcourt with 3.28 dps while Owens is picking up 2.7 dps. At the net, Battle has tallied 84 blocks on the season and LaTasha Samson-Akpan has 62.

THE IRISH (5-14, 2-6 ACC)
Notre Dame came from down 2-0 to defeat Boston College 3-2 last weekend at home. Jeni Houser had 13 kills for the Irish while Sam Fry and Nicole Smith added 12 each. Sam was also strong on the defensive side with nine blocks.

Houser leads the Irish on the offensive side this season, averaging 2.71 kps. Smith is adding 2.67 and Fry is tallying 2.24 kps. ND has two seeing time at the setter position with Hanna Muzzonigro putting up 6.6 aps and Maddie Dilfer notching 4.52 aps. Defensively, the Irish are led by Natalie Johnson with 3.33 dps in the backcourt. In the frontcourt, Fry is recording 1.18 bps.

THE TIGERS (14-6, 3-4 ACC)
Clemson defeated Notre Dame, 3-0 in the Tigers’ last outing. Leah Perri led the Tigers with 11 kills while Kristin Faust and Haleigh Hampton added nine each.

Leading the Tigers on the season is Faust with 3.65 kps. Perri is knocking down 2.93 kps. In the setter position, Kate Federico is putting up 9.73 aps.

Clemson has three players averaging more than a block per set with Karis Watson leading the way at the net with 1.48 bps. Beta Dumanici is tallying 1.24 bps and Hampton is chipping in 1.03 bps. Niki Collier is notching 3.28 dps with Faust following at 2.61 dps.

ALL-TIME vs. THE OPPONENTS
The Hokies and Irish have met just five times, but Notre Dame holds the 3-2 lead in the series and won last season 3-1 in South Bend. Owens posted 19 kills for the Hokies in that match and is the top-returner. Houser recorded 13 to lead the Irish.

Clemson and Tech have already met once this season with the Tigers edging the Hokies 3-2 in Clemson. Caine had 13 kills for Virginia Tech with Bryan and Owens adding 11 each. Hampton recorded 20 kills for the Tigers and Watson had 11.

UP NEXT
The Hokies remain home to host Pittsburgh on Friday, Dec. 31 at 7 p.m. Tech will be hosting “Haunted Cassell” with Trick-or-Treat stations located around the Cassell concourse, assorted Halloween activities and costume contest at the break.

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