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	1	2	3	4	5	F
Ohio (4-8)	25	25	25	23	15	3
Virginia Tech (5-6)	21	20	27	25	6	2
Cassell Coliseum - 503 Box Score Photo Gallery

BLACKSBURG –Hobbled by injuries and playing in its second match of the day, the Virginia Tech volleyball team nearly completed a triumphant comeback but fell just short as the Hokies dropped a tough 3-2 decision to Ohio on Friday evening on Virginia Tech Carillion Court.

Senior Amanda McKinzie finished with a team-best 14 kills as part of her second-consecutive double-double. Junior Jaila Tolbert hit .333 with 11 kills and a team-high six blocks for the Hokies (5-6). The loss against the defending MAC champions marked the first loss at Cassell Coliseum for Tech this season.

After dropping the first two sets, head coach Chris Riley mixed in freshman Melody Caloyannides into the rotation to provide a spark off the bench. She tallied her first-collegiate kill and McKinzie posted five of her 14 kills in the set.

Tech faced match point in the third, 24-19, but the Hokies refused to go down without a fight. Three-straight errors and a kill from McKinzie cut the deficit to one, 24-23, and forced the Bobcats to call a timeout. Tech later took its first lead of the set on a kill from Tolbert, 26-25, and the comeback effort was on after an error won the Hokies the third, 27-25.

Ohio was beating the Hokies at the net all evening but Tech out-blocked the Bobcats, 7-1, en route to a 25-23 fourth set victory. It wouldn’t be enough though as Ohio came back to take the fifth and deciding frame, 15-6.

After using the weekend for some much-needed rest, the Hokies return to action on Friday, Sept. 23., when Tech opens ACC play against Clemson at 7 p.m. Cassell Coliseum.

MATCH NOTES

• McKinzie and senior Lindsey Owens posted double-doubles for the second-consecutive match.
• Owens’ 19 digs set a season-high.
• Tolbert has now tallied double-digit kills in back-to-back matches and in five matches on the season.
• In her first career appearance, Caloyannides finished with two kills, a dig and two blocks. Her second rejection came on the final point of the fourth game and forced a deciding set.
• The numbers from sophomore Briana Lanktree won’t jump off the page but her performance in service kept the Hokies alive, especially on their run in the third set. She finished with five kills and two blocks.
• Junior Mandy Powers continued her strong play at setter as she finished with 34 assists and three blocks.
• Tech is now 2-3 in five set matches this season.

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