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Dates: Oct. 16, Oct. 18

Friday vs. Wake Forest (6 p.m.): Stats / Video

Sunday vs. Duke (noon): Stats / ESPN3 / RSN

Weekend Notes

BLACKSBURG – Continuing conference play, the Virginia Tech volleyball team travels to take on a pair of North Carolina teams this weekend, Wake Forest Friday and Duke Sunday aired on the ACC’s Regional Sport Networks.

The Hokies depart Blacksburg with a 13-7 overall record and 4-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference tied with Georgia Tech for the eighth spot. The Deacon Demons play Friday with an even 10-10 overall mark, 2-6 in conference play while the Blue Devils enter the weekend at 8-10 and 3-5 in the ACC.

Tech takes the court in Winston-Salem Friday following a 1-1 outcome at home last weekend. The Hokies swept Clemson last Friday to mark their first win over the Tigers since 2011. However, Tech fell short in four sets Sunday to Georgia Tech despite three Hokies’ double-doubles.

Virginia Tech registered four double-doubles through the two matches, including three against Georgia Tech alone. Setter Rhegan Mitchell marked double-figure assists and digs against both Georgia Tech and Clemson, while Lindsey Owens and Kennedy Bryan did so against Georgia Tech with kills and digs, marking Bryan’s first collegiate double-double.

Owen’s 25 kills last weekend improved her career total to 964, inching her closer to the 1,000-kill mark. Also making career strides is libero Kennedy McGrath who surpassed her previous season-high digs from 2012 as she now collected 287 to date.

Scouting the Demon Deacons:

Wake Forest returns home to serve as host to Virginia Tech on Friday after a three set loss to now-ranked No. 24 Louisville last Friday and a four-set victory over Notre Dame on Sunday. The win over the Fighting Irish marked the squad’s second conference win this season with their first against Virginia in September. Outside hitter Kylie Long leads the Demon Deacons with 271 kills while middle blocker Matalee Reed follows narrowly behind with 202.

Scouting the Blue Devils:

Duke opens the weekend against Pittsburgh following a 1-1 weekend on the road with a sweep at Notre Dame and a three-set loss at then-ranked No. 25 Louisville. The Blue Devils’ well-balanced offense is shared by Emily Sklar, Jordan Tucker, and Leah Meyer who have registered 194, 176, and 168 kills respectively. Outside hitter Sklar has also collected 136 digs behind libero Sasha Karelov.

The Series:

The Hokies have an overall record of 32-37 over the North Carolina opponents. Tech leads Wake Forest 28-12 overall, including 10-6 under head coach Chris Riley. The Hokies won both contests last season against this weekend’s competitors with a sweep of the Demon Deacons and a 3-2 win over the No. 21-ranked Blue Devils. With the win in 2014, Tech trails the series with Duke 4-25. However, the Hokies have won the last two home contests, yet have never won on the road vs. the Blue Devils.

Up Next:

The Hokies return home next weekend to face Miami Friday and No. 17 Florida State Sunday. Friday’s contest features Hokies for Hokies and Haunted Cassell with pre-match trick-or-treat stations and a costume parade.

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