Hokies set to host Louisville, Notre Dame

Tech will welcome ACC opponents for the first time this season

October 5, 2017

Game Notes

BLACKSBURG – For the first time in three weeks, Virginia Tech’s volleyball team will be taking the court in front of its home crowd on Friday, with its match against Louisville at 6:30 p.m. ET. The Hokies will return on Sunday to play RV Notre Dame at noon.

Tech (7-8, 1-3 ACC) will clash against the top-two teams in the ACC, according to the NCAA’s Ratings Percentage Index. The Cardinals’ (9-5, 3-1 ACC) RPI sits at No. 22 and the Irish (11-4, 1-3 ACC) are at No. 26.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Fri. | 6:30 p.m. ET vs. Louisville | Stats | Stream
Sun. | Noon ET vs. RV Notre Dame | Stats | Stream

Both of Tech’s two matches inside Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum will be streamed live. Friday’s match will be streamed by HokieVision Live, while Sunday’s will be on 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 1-1 in league play to close the second week of ACC competition. Tech defeated Virginia, 3-1, in its first mid-week match of the season, while falling to Pitt on Sunday, 3-0. Freshman Marisa Cerchio, whose primary position is middle blocker, moved over to outside hitter and adapted well, turning in a career-high 12 kills in Tech’s win over Virginia.

Libero Carol Raffety scooped up a 16 digs against UVA, marking her seventh-straight match of 10-plus, while setter Rhegan Mitchell dished out 42 assists - her third consecutive match of posting 40 or more assists.

Tech is fourth in the league for opponent digs, owning a 12.80 average per set. Mitchell is fourth among all ACC players in total assists with 532, and freshman Kaity Smith owns the ninth-most kills in the league with 139, despite missing four matches.

Friday’s match is Student Appreciation night with many incentives for Virginia Tech students. The first few students getting to the arena will receive a Virginia Tech tank top, free food from concessions via a voucher and can participate in a Nike gear raffle.

Sunday’s match is Cassell Fall Festival, which entails a face painter and balloon twister available on the concourse level from 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Additionally, there will be a number of carnival games and prizes for kids and families prior to the start of the match.

With the Hokies back on their home court, fans can bring multiple items to help out with the players’ Senior Project. The team is partnering with Carilion’s Children Hospital to collect items such as books, toys, games, clothes, toiletries and more.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

LOUISVILLE

• The Cardinals, who boast the best RPI in the ACC (22), enter Week 7 of the season with a 9-5 overall record and 3-1 reading in conference play. Louisville played flawless versus Miami (FL) and then-No. 21 Florida State, winning in straight sets in both matches on its home floor.

• Head coach Dani Busboom Kelly is in her first year in Louisville, just like three other coaches who are breaking in their rookie campaigns in the ACC - Clemson’s Michaela Franklin, Virginia’s Aaron Smith and Tech’s Jill Wilson. Busboom Kelly came from Nebraska where she was the top assistant.

• Led by Melanie McHenry, who owns a team-high 184 kills, the Cardinals have been on a roll as of late winning five of their last seven matches. McHenry is coming off quite the weekend as the sophomore tallied 33 kills, 20 digs and three blocks to earn ACC Player of the Week.

• The all-time series stands at 21-3 in Louisville’s favor. UofL has won eight in a row, dating all the way back to 1992. The Cardinals won the last matchup in Blacksburg, 3-1, on Oct. 21, 2016.

NOTRE DAME

• The Irish enter the weekend with an 11-4 overall record and, just like the Hokies, are 1-3 in ACC play. After falling to Miami (FL) 3-1, Notre Dame bounced back with a five-set thriller over then-No. 21 Florida State, marking Notre Dame’s third victory over a ranked opponent this season - No. 24 Ohio State and No. 23 Michigan State.

• Notre Dame’s 19.05 digs per set ranks second nationally and it also checks in at No. 6 in the country in opponent hitting percentage (.131). Sophomore Jemma Yeadon leads the nation in attacks per set with 14.84, while teammate Ryann DeJarld is third in the land in digs per set with 6.38.

• Jim McLaughlin, who claims over 600 wins in his coaching career, is in his third year in South Bend. McLaughlin is the only person to coach both a women’s and a men’s volleyball team to NCAA titles. He is a former women’s volleyball national coach of the year at the University of Washington.

• In eight meetings, the all-time series is knotted at 4-4 between the Irish and Hokies. Last year, Notre Dame got the best of Tech, winning 3-0 in Blacksburg.

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