Hokies look to advance to the sweet 16 with upset against baylor

Joey Robertson

March 21, 2021

BLACKSBURG, Va. — In their last match in Cassell Coliseum, Virginia Tech’s seniors made sure to leave it all out on the court as the Hokies won the match over Syracuse, 3-2.

The Orange didn’t make it easy on the Hokies as they shot out of the gate and put up an early lead in the first set. The Hokies then played catch up against the Orange as they couldn’t find any separation for a while.

The Hokies were able to tie the first set at eleven, then the two teams traded points all the way up to the end of the set. It was tied at 23 and after a kill by Ella Saada and an attack error by Ashley Homan, the Orange won the first set.

The second set was much like the first, as the two teams traded blows back and forth. It wasn’t until the end of the set where the Hokies used a 5-0 run to pull ahead.

In that run, Kaity Smith was crucial to Tech’s offense as she tallied to two kills. The Hokies took the second set 25-20 from the Orange.

The third set was much like the end of the second set as the Hokies used multiple kills from Ashley Homan and Kaity Smith to ultimately take the set 25-19.

In the fourth set, the Orange got out to an early 7-4 lead but the Hokies closed the distance quickly and eventually tied the game up at 10. The two teams then traded off points up until the very end of the match.

The game was tied at 24 when Viktoriia Lokhmanchuk for the Orange posted a service ace and then a kill by Yuliia Yastrub put the Hokies away as the Orange took fourth the set 26-24.

The fifth and final set was much like the previous four sets as the two teams once again traded points back and forth up until the end of the set. The Hokies used a short 3-0 run to take command of the set and go up 13-10 on the Orange.

After an attack error by Ella Saada of the Orange and a kill from Kaity Smith, the Hokies emerged victorious taking the set 15-11 and the match 3-2. The win is also Virginia Tech’s first win of the 2021 spring season. The match was also the first time the Hokies had beaten the Orange since 2016.

The Hokies move to 6-7 on the season and 5-7 in the conference. The Orange fall to 5-7 on the season and 5-7 in ACC play.

Virginia Tech will be back in action March 27 versus Miami in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. First serve is set for 2 p.m.

The Orange will be back in action March 26 versus Wake Forest at Home. First serve is set for 1 p.m.