virginia tech volleyball spring season preview

Joey Robertson and Duncan Weigand

March 13, 2021

Virginia Tech stands for the national anthem before its first win over Virginia in three years. (Virginia Tech Athletics)

BLACKSBURG, Va. — After an impressive fall slate Virginia Tech is looking to build off of its first nine games. The Hokies finished 5-4 overall and 4-4 in conference play, tying the same amount of wins they had in conference play last season.


Tech started off the fall season strong, sweeping the Citadel. The Hokies then went on to ACC play where they managed to split a series with UNC at Cassell Coliseum.


Virginia Tech then stunned its in state rival UVA by beating the Cavaliers twice, a feat the Hokies hadn’t completed since 2017.


Tech finished its fall slate with a 4-match road trip where it split a series with Duke and lost two straight to NC State, ending the season with a 3-match losing streak.


Even though the fall season didn’t end as well as head coach Marci Byers would have liked, there’s still plenty to be proud about. The Hokies’ win No. 14 Duke was the second highest ranked win in Virginia Tech history.


Kaity Smith reached 1,000 kills in her college career and Ashley Homan received ACC player of the week in her Tech debut against the Citadel.


The spring schedule will be different than in the fall as the Hokies will face 10 different opponents which is six more than they faced previously. Tech won’t play against anyone it faced in the fall.


With that being said what are the expectations for this spring?


Tech as of right now will play two ranked teams, those being No. 13 Louisville, who VT will face on Friday, and No. 14 Notre Dame.


With a great freshman class and veteran leadership there is no reason why this Hokie team can’t finish with a winning record. All Virginia Tech needs to do is recapture that spark it had its first six games last fall.


Players to watch?


The Hokies return their whole roster from the 2020 season. Some familiar faces and some new faces contributed to the Hokies in the first half of the season.


  • No. 1 Kaity Smith: In the fall, Smith started all nine matches for Tech and tallied six double-doubles on the season. She had a season-high 21 kills vs. UNC, 18 digs vs. UVA.


  • No.18 Ashley Homan: In the fall season, Homan started all nine games and ranked third on the team in kills with 89. The outside hitter also tallied season high’s of 15 kills vs. UNC, 17 digs vs. UNC, and 1 block vs. UVA. Homan will be a key player for Tech’s offense in the 2021 season.


  • No. 23 Talyn Jackson: During the 2020 season, Jackson started in eight matches and ranks first on the squad in assists with 173. She posted season high’s of 32 assists and eight digs vs. UNC and notched her first double-double vs. UVA. Jackson is the Hokies best defensive player on the court and looks to solidify her role this spring.