Tech set to clash with Virginia, Pitt

Hokies will compete in their first mid-week match of the season

September 26, 2017

Game Notes

BLACKSBURG – Beginning the second week of ACC play, Virginia Tech Volleyball will compete in its first mid-week match of the season against Virginia on Wednesday at 7 p.m., followed by a Sunday tilt versus Pitt at 1 p.m. with both being on the road.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Wed. | 7 p.m. ET vs. Virginia | Stats | Stream
Sun. | 1 p.m. ET vs. Pitt | Stats | Stream

The Commonwealth Clash against the Cavaliers and Tech's match with the Panthers will be streamed live online through ACC Network Extra. You can watch the action on your computer or on your phone via the WatchESPN app.

The last time out, the Hokies went 0-2 to open up league play in the state of Florida. Tech took on RV Miami (FL) and No. 21 Florida State, falling to both schools by the same score of 3-1. The Hokies won both of the second sets in each match.

Despite not getting a victory opening weekend in ACC action, Tech showed some signs of improvement and a few players stood out.

Freshman Marisa Cerchio, whose primary position is middle blocker, moved over to outside hitter and adapted well, turning in a career-high 11 kills in back-to-back matches. Libero Carol Raffety scooped up a season-high 21 digs against FSU, while outside hitter Ester Talamazzi and setter Rhegan Mitchell each posted double-doubles in both ACC matches.

The Hokies have the seventh-best hitting percentage in the ACC, owning a mark of .217 through 13 matches. Redshirt senior Stacey Christy has the best hitting percentage on the team with a .301 clip and redshirt junior Rhegan Mitchell has the second-most assists in the conference with 468.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

SCOUTING VIRGINIA

• Similar to the Hokies, the Cavaliers (4-9) enter Week 6 of the season with a 0-2 record in conference play. Virginia, which also was in the Sunshine State this past weekend, battled with RV Miami (FL) and No. 21 Florida State winning three sets compared to Tech’s two.

• Head coach Aaron Smith is in his first year in Charlottesville, just like three other coaches who are breaking in their rookie campaigns in the ACC - Clemson’s Michaela Franklin, Louisville’s Dani Busboom Kelly and Tech’s Jill Wilson. In 2013 as an assistant coach, Smith was honored with the AVCA Thirty Under 30 award.

• The Cavaliers are led by Jelena Novakovic who owns a team-high 136 kills and Megan Wilson who has 357 assists. Novakovic is coming off a 17-kill performance on Sunday against the Hurricanes, while Wilson dished out 27 assists.

• The long rivalry between Virginia Tech and Virginia started back in 1979 in Blacksburg, a three-set win for the Hokies. Since then, things have been neck and neck as the all-time series is knotted at 34-34. In recent memory, Tech has won the last three matches, including the last matchup which was a five-set nail-bitter in Charlottesville, 15-13, to finish the season the day after Thanksgiving.

SCOUTING PITT

• The Panthers enter the weekend with a 9-4 record and a perfect 2-0 reading in ACC play, marking the third year in a row they have been flawless opening weekend to start conference action. Pitt comes off two convincing wins over Syracuse and Boston College as both matches were by the same score of 3-1.

• Outside hitters Nika Markovic and Stephanie Williams lead the team in kills, combining for 288. Junior Kamalani Akeo paces the Panthers, dishing out 465 assists on the year at the setter position. Akeo owns the third-most assists in the ACC.

• Pitt is coached by Dan Fisher, who enters his fifth season in Pittsburgh and just tallied his 100th win at Pitt this past Friday against the Orange. Fisher coached the first Pitt volleyball team to reach the NCAA Tournament in 12 years, when it made it last season after a 25-9 record.

• In 13 meetings, Pitt owns the edge, 7-6, in the all-time series against Tech, winning both matches in 2016.

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