Tech heads to North Carolina, NC State

Hokies take off to the Tar Heel State

October 12, 2017

Game Notes

BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech’s volleyball team will make the trip to the Tar Heel State this weekend, taking on North Carolina on Friday at 5 p.m. ET and NC State on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Tech (7-10, 1-5 ACC) will clash against two teams which are in the top five of the ACC standings and both own a top-50 Rating Percentage Index. The Tar Heels’ (7-7, 4-2 ACC) RPI sits at No. 45 and the Wolfpack (11-6, 6-0 ACC) are at No. 34.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Fri. | 5 p.m. ET vs. North Carolina | Stats | Stream
Sun. | 2 p.m. ET vs. NC State | Stats | Stream

Both of Tech’s two matches will be streamed live 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 0-2 in league play to close the third week of ACC competition. Tech was defeated at home by, at the time, the two highest-ranked teams from the ACC in RPI - Louisville (22) and Notre Dame (26).

Setter Rhegan Mitchell turned in back-to-back double-doubles on the weekend, dishing out 87 assists and posting 25 digs in the two matches. Right side hitter Jaila Tolbert hit north of .400 in both matches, while also registering a season-high 15 kills against the Cards.

Freshman Ester Talamazzi almost turned in consecutive double-doubles as well, racking up an 11-kill, 11-dig performance against UofL and followed it up with a career-high 17 kills and nine digs versus the Irish. The Italy native has recorded 88 kills in conference play through six matches.

Tech is fifth in the league for opponent digs, owning a 13.00 average per set. Mitchell is fourth among all ACC players in total assists with 619, and libero Carol Raffety is fifth in the league with 245 digs, averaging 3.83 per set.

The matchup between the Hokies and Tar Heels will be a prelude to UNC’s annual Late Night with Roy for men’s basketball. Admission is free for the entire evening with open seating filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 4 p.m.

Public parking will be available for $10 in the Rams Head Deck (limited parking beginning at 3 p.m.). Public parking also will be available for $10 beginning at 5 p.m. in the Bowles Lot, the Manning Lot, the Craige Deck and the Jackson Deck. Disability parking will be available for $10 in the Williamson Lot, and shuttles will operate from there to Entrance A of the Smith Center beginning at 5 p.m.

For more information on parking in Chapel Hill, click here. For more info on Late Night with Roy, click here.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

NORTH CAROLINA

• The Tar Heels, who were picked to win the ACC in the preseason for the third-straight year, enter Week 8 of the season with a 7-7 overall record and 4-2 reading in conference play. North Carolina is coming off two wins this past weekend on its home court against Duke and Wake Forest.

• Head coach Joe Sagula is in his 28th year in Chapel Hill. Sagula is the winningest volleyball coach in school history and has guided the Tar Heels to seven ACC championships and 14 NCAA Tournament appearances. He currently is ranked sixth among active coaches in Division I victories.

• Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Borup returned to the lineup for the first time on Friday night after missing eight matches with a leg injury. The 2016 ACC All-Freshman selection powered Carolina’s offense on Sunday versus Wake Forest, leading the Tar Heels with 15 kills, hitting .429.

• The all-time series stands at 25-5 in North Carolina’s favor. UNC has won eight in a row, dating all the way back to 2012. The Tar Heels won the last matchup in Blacksburg, 3-1, on Oct. 28, 2016.

NC STATE

• The Wolfpack enter the weekend with an 11-6 overall record and are a perfect 6-0 in ACC play. After falling to No. 21 Michigan in Ann Arbor on Sept. 15, NC State has rattled off seven wins in a row. The Pack sit atop the ACC standings along with Pitt, marking their best start in league play since 1988.

• Setter Kylie Pickrell paces the Pack, owning 655 assists on the year, which is the best mark in the ACC. The junior turned in a triple-double against Missouri State opening weekend (13 kills, 47 assists, 19 digs), and is one of three players in the ACC to accomplish the feat.

• Linda Hampton-Keith, who worked with the USA Volleyball Development Program for 12 years, is in her second year in Raleigh. Hampton-Keith led the Wolfpack to 13 ACC wins last year in her first season, breaking the program record for the most wins in league play.

• In 33 meetings, Virginia Tech owns the all-time series 21-12. Last year, NC State got the best of Tech, winning 3-0 in Blacksburg.

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