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Match Notes | WatchESPN (vs. Georgia Tech) | Live Stats

BLACKSBURG -- After splitting its final non-conference matches of the season last weekend, the Virginia Tech volleyball team opens ACC play at 7 p.m. on Friday against Clemson on Virginia Tech Carillion Court.

The Hokies will then welcome Georgia Tech on Sunday for Hokies Kids’ Club and Youth Day at Cassell Coliseum at 1 p.m. Sunday’s match against the Yellow Jackets will be streamed on the WatchESPN platform. Llive stats for both matchups will be provided at HokieSports.com/volleyball/live.

Tech has been forced to tweak its rotations recently due to a myriad of injuries to key players and are emphasizing defense as they enter conference play. Sunday’s match against Georgia Tech will showcase two solid defensive squads as both teams rank in the top-five in the ACC in opponent’s hitting percentage and digs.

Sophomore Jaila Tolbert hit .375 in two matches last week and also had 12 kills in the win over Radford and six blocks in a tough five-set loss to Ohio. The loss to the Bobcats marked Tech’s first defeat at Cassell Coliseum this season and its first loss on its home floor since falling to No. 15 Florida State on Nov. 1, 2015.

Scouting the Opponents

• Clemson is one of top teams in the ACC with the serve as the Tigers rank third with 1.52 aces per set.
• Leah Perri leads the Tigers with 3.96 kills per set, which ranks second in the ACC, and 0.32 service aces per set.
• Georgia Tech is 5-0 in three-set matches this season.
• The Yellow Jackets lead the ACC with a .155 opp. hitting % and 17.63 digs per set.
• Lauren Ackerman anchors Georgia Tech defense with 4.87 digs per set.

Hokies defense in the top 5

•Heading into ACC play riddled with injuries, the Hokies have placed on emphasis on playing tough defense and, thus far, the numbers have reflected their efforts.
•Tech currently ranks fourth in the ACC with 15.41 digs per set and fifth with a .178 opponent’s hitting percentage.
•Junior Cara Cunningham leads the Hokies at the net where her 1.41 blocks per set ranks fifth in the conference.
•After being recruited as an outside hitter, freshman Carol Raffety has become the Hokies’ leader in the back row as she posts 4.27 digs per set, good enough for fifth in the ACC.

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