August 27, 2016
Tech powers past UMBC, 3-0, to complete Saturday sweep
Hokies set to face top competition in Puerto Rico next week
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UMBC (2-1) 2117120
Virginia Tech (3-0) 2525253
  • Cassell Coliseum - 555

BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech volleyball team clicked in all facets in its weekend tournament finale on Saturday as the Hokies defeated UMBC, 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-12), to improve to 3-0 overall on the season.

The Hokies held the Terriers to a season-low .115 hitting percentage while Tech countered with a .371 clip. Junior Ashley Battle capped off an impressive Saturday with an efficient .500 attack percentage to go along with four total blocks while senior Lindsey Owens paced the Hokies with 18 kills.

Eight of Owens’ 18 kills came in Tech’s 25-21 first set victory. In the second frame, Battle and junior Cara Cunningham provided stellar defense at the net as the duo combined for six blocks. Battle also hit .714 with five kills that helped the Hokies clinch the second frame, 25-17.

Tech would then go on to provide a clinical performance in the third set. After making her first appearance of the season in the second set, sophomore Briana Lanktree started the third set and chipped in four kills and solo block. Tech led from start to finish in the 25-12 third set win and it was capped off with Owens’ 18th kill of the evening.

MATCH NOTES

  • After racking up four blocks Saturday evening, Battle has now compiled 295 career blocks. The Apex, North Carolina product is 18 swats shy of cracking the top 10 in program history.
  • Owens’ .643 hitting percentage (18-for-28) set a new career-high, breaking her previous best of .522 set last season against Bowling Green on Sept. 12.
  • Sophomore Rhegan Mitchell, who eclipsed the 1,000 career assist plateau in the win over Siena, tallied 34 assists and a block against UMBC.
  • A couple of Hokies saw their first action of the season in the final match of the Virginia Tech/Radford Invitational. Sophomores Kelly Esch and Briana Lanktree saw time in the third set with the Latter Hokie matching her career-high with four kills.
  • Freshman Gaby Sentíes made her second appearance of the season in the win over the Terriers where she showcased her effective serve.
  • 2016 marks the second-consecutive season and the third in the last four years where the Hokies have started off a campaign 3-0.
  • After posting nine team blocks to UMBC’s four, the Hokies out-blocked all three of their opponents this weekend.

UP NEXT

The Hokies will leave the continental United States for the first time as a program to face top competition at the Puerto Rico Clásico. Tech will face Alabama on Sept. 1 at 5:30 p.m., Temple on Sept. 2 at 3 p.m. and Texas A&M at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 3. All matches will be streamed online via FloVolleyball. Broadcast information can be found here.

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

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