BLACKSBURG – With an undefeated 6-0 start to the 2015 season, Virginia Tech volleyball team takes on the Indiana Invitational in Bloomington this weekend to wrap-up preconference play. The Hokies face host Indiana (4-2) on Friday, followed by both Northern Arizona (5-2) and Bowling Green (3-4) on Saturday to conclude the two-day tournament.
Tech is coming off its second tournament sweep, highlighted by the 3-1 upset over then No. 19 Michigan State on Saturday. The Hokies' 6-0 record is their best start since 2009 when the team went 9-0 to begin the season.
Following the weekend, the Hokies are receiving votes in the AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll for the first time in program history. No. 19 Florida State is lone Atlantic Coast Conference school ranked in the poll, while North Carolina is also receiving votes.
Virginia Tech is one of only 20 teams in NCAA Division I volleyball who remain undefeated through week two of the 2015. The Hokies sit in the top 25 and second in the ACC in both team hitting percentage (.280) and opponent hitting percentage (.111).
Outside hitter Amanda McKinzie garnered the ACC Player of the Week honors this week for Tech for the first time since 2013. Her stand out performances at the Spartan Invite also earned her a spot on the all-tournament team in addition to fellow all-tournament members Kenedy McGrath and MVP Lindsey Owens. Both McKinize and Owens collected two double-doubles while setter Rhegan Mitchell collected her first through the three wins of the tournament.
Scouting the Opponents:
Indiana sports the home court advantage this weekend, serving as host of the Indiana Invitational. The Hoosiers took their last two three-match tournaments, 2-1, including their most recent comeback win over Texas State. Outside hitter Amelia leads the Hoosiers with 110 kills, averaging 3.93 kills per set. Setters Makayla Lundin and Megan Tallman share the court with 131 and 146 kills, respectively. Libero Courtney Harnish has collected 87 digs thus far.
Northern Arizona faces a short week, after dropping a 3-1 decision to No. 10 Arizona State on Tuesday. The Lumberjacks swept their home tournament last weekend over Houston Baptist, Liberty, and RV Loyola Marymount. Senior outside hitter Janae Vander Ploeg is closing in on the top of NAU’s record books after already posting 120 kills and 81 digs through seven matches. Setter Jensen Barton has tallied 166 assists thus far, while libero Stacia Williams totals 101 digs.
Bowling Green hits the road this weekend following a 1-2 outing as host of the Hampton Inn Bowling Green Invitational last weekend. They wrapped up the tournament with a five-set win over IPFW after falling to Wright State and Loyola (Chicago). The Falcons’ outside hitter Jelena Sunjic tops the stats with 112 kills. Setter Katie Scholten dominates the assist column with 280 of the squad’s 335 total sets. Liberos Kallie Semimet and Madeline Garda share the floor, totaling 109 and 100 digs, respectively.
Tech vs. the Field:
The Hokies hold a 2-1 record against this weekend’s opponents. Facing for the second time in the programs’ histories, Tech leads the series with Indiana after a 3-1 win in 2011. Saturday morning’s matchup with Northern Arizona will be the first time the two face each other. The series is tied at 1-1 between the Hokies and the Falcons with Tech topping Bowling Green in 2013, 3-1.
Up Next:
Tech returns home next weekend, serving as host of the Hokie Invitational in the final tournament before beginning conference play. The Hokies face Middle Tennessee on Friday, followed by Chattanooga and Liberty on Saturday.
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