October 30, 2015
Lindsey Owens reaches 1,000-kill milestone in Hokies' setback
Kennedy Bryan, Amanda McKinzie, and Lindsey Owens recorded double-digit kills against Miami.
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Miami (15-6) 25191625153
Virginia Tech (14-9) 22252517132
  • Cassell Coliseum - 733

BLACKSBURG, Va. – In a back-and-forth battle between the Virginia Tech and Miami volleyball teams, Lindsey Owens recorded her 1,000th career kill in the Hokies heartbreaking five-set loss to the Hurricanes. Virginia Tech slides to a 14-9 overall mark, 5-6 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, while Miami improves to 15-6, 8-3 in the ACC.

Despite falling behind with a set one loss, the Hokies responded with two set wins forcing a fourth and, later, fifth set. Tech rallied to a five-point lead late in the final frame, but ultimately fell victim to the Hurricanes, 2-3.

Owens paved the way for the Hokies, recording not only her 1,000th kill but 15 additional with 14 digs to register the lone double-double for the squad. Kennedy Bryan and Amanda McKinzie followed suit, downing double-figure kills of 14 and 11, respectively. Rhegan Mitchell and Kyra Coundourides shared the assist column, aiding 26 and 22 attacks, respectively. Ashley Battle with nine and Cara Cunningham with six combined to block 15 Miami attacks of Tech’s total 26 blocks.

Taylor Scott and Kelsie Groot paced the Hurricanes to their victory as the pair each downed double-digit kills. Groot also collected 15 digs, behind Kalysta White’s 21, to record a double-double for Miami. Despite the Hurricanes’ victory, the squad was held to a .188 attack percentage, led by Kenedy McGrath’s 20 digs for the Hokies.

Earning her first collegiate start, Katie Krueger opened the set with her first of six kills throughout the match. The lead changed five times before Miami secured their three-point lead at the 15-18 mark. Battle’s 3-for-4 attack could not overcome the Hurricanes’ set one decision, 22-25.

The second frame remained even until serving by Cunningham rallied Tech to score five unanswered points, including Cunningham’s first ace since Sept. 27. Led by Owens’ 5-for-10 attack, five Hokies hit at or above a .400 rate in the set, clinching the squad’s 25-19 win to even up the match at 1-1.

Owens continued her attack in the third frame, hitting at a nearly perfect 5-for-6 clip. Tech jumped to an early lead with the largest margin of 11 points late in the stanza. Recording four of nine total blocks, Battle and the Hokies held Miami to a .095 attack percentage in the third set to secure the 25-16 victory.

The Hurricanes showed their fight in the fourth stanza led by Groot’s 4-for-5 attack. The Hokies rallied around McKinzie’s powerful serving to narrow their largest deficit down to a mere five points. However, Miami came out with the 17-25 decision.

The squads battled through five tie scores and four lead changes throughout the final frame. Despite the Hokies’ valiant efforts, Miami outlasted Tech to earn the win, 15-13.

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