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	1	2	3	4	F
Liberty (4-8)	25	9	18	21	1
Virginia Tech (9-3)	22	25	25	25	3
Cassell Coliseum - 652 Box Score

BLACKSBURG - Led by all-tournament team members, Kennedy Bryan and Rhegan Mitchell, the Virginia Tech volleyball team closed out the Hokie Invite with a four-set victory over Liberty on Saturday night. The Hokies improve to 9-3 while Liberty dips to a 4-8 mark.

Through the three-match invite, Bryan attacked at a .365 clip with 10 blocks while Mitchell posted 145 assists to average 12.08 per set. The pair was consistent throughout the Hokies’ contest with the Flames as Bryan downed 13 kills and Mitchell assisted 51. Lindsey Owens posted a double-double in the matchup with a team-best 18 kills and 14 digs. Amanda McKinzie matched Bryan’s 13, while Kenedy McGrath grounded the squad, collecting 15 digs.

Liberty’s Haley Jeffcoat and all-tournament team member Sirena Vorster led the Flames’ attack, tallying 15 and 10 kills, respectively. Margaret Latchford owned the court recording 21 digs for the Flames. Despite Liberty’s efforts, the squad was held to a .122 clip in the matchup.

A similar story to the Hokies’ first match of the day, Tech and Liberty began the contest with the advantage going back-and forth eight times throughout the set. Neither team extended the margin beyond two until Ashley Battle downed one of her eight total kills, giving the Hokies a 15-12 lead. However, the Flames responded, closing out the set 22-25.

With the early 6-1 lead, the Hokies monopolized the second frame, hitting at a .667 rate and holding the Flames to -.033. Battle was a perfect 3-for-3 with Owens going 6-for-7, closing out the second set rout, 25-9 - a set score that Tech has not seen since Sept. 14, 2013 when the Hokies’ held William & Mary to a mere six points in one frame.

Cara Cunningham and Owens opened the set with a block, setting the tone for what was to come. The Hokies posted 12 of their total 20 blocks in the third frame alone. Bryan and Cunningham put up a wall for back-to-back points, extending the margin beyond two. Tech took off from there to secure the 25-18 win.

The Flames showed their fight in the final set of the match with three early tie scores and holding a narrow margin throughout. However, Tech’s prowess came to light with five unanswered points despite a mid-rally timeout by the Flames. Liberty encroached on Tech’s lead, narrowing it to four. But the Hokies prevailed with the final assist and kill by the all-tournament team members, Mitchell and Bryan, to secure the 25-21 victory.

Virginia Tech returns to action on Friday at 7 p.m., taking on North Carolina to begin conference play in Cassell Coliseum.

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