Hokies return home to face Georgia Tech, Clemson

Tech set to battle Yellow Jackets on Friday and Tigers on Sunday

November 2, 2017

Game Notes

BLACKSBURG – Back at home to begin the final month of ACC play, the Virginia Tech volleyball team will take on Georgia Tech on Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET and Clemson on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum.

The Hokies (8-15, 2-10 ACC) will clash against two teams that split its matches last weekend. Both of the Yellow Jackets (11-12, 6-6 ACC) and Tigers (7-17, 2-10 ACC) hit the road for the first time in three weeks.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Fri. | 6:30 p.m. ET vs. Georgia Tech | Stats | Stream
Sun. | 1 p.m. ET vs. Clemson | 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 sixth week of ACC competition. Tech hit the road to the Northeast and fell to Syracuse, 3-0, and Boston College, 3-1.

The Hokies racked up a season-high 12 blocks against Boston College, topping the previous mark set twice of 11 versus Ole Miss and Milwaukee.

Outside hitter Kaity Smith pounded down a team-high 14 kills and had 13 digs against BC, posting the fourth double-double of her career. The Kentucky native also registered three blocks to set a new career high.

Rhegan Mitchell, a setter, once again brought it on the defensive end, tying a season-high 14 digs and two blocks, while dishing out 32 assists versus BC. The redshirt junior has owned six or more digs in her last eight matches, and posted her seventh double-double of the season.

Freshman Kai Young played arguably her best performance of the season, setting two career highs in kills (7) and blocks (7). The North Carolina native has had a knack for swats at the net recently, standing tall for 16 blocks her last five matches. Her seven blocks versus the Eagles was the most by a Hokie this year.

Tech is fourth in the conference for opponent digs, owning a 12.94 average per set. Mitchell is second among all ACC players in total assists with 849, and libero Carol Raffety is fourth in the league with 334 digs, averaging 3.84 per set.

Friday's match is Student Hokie Club Night and there will be a giveaway of 200 Student Hokie Club cups, a food item and a raffle for pre-game sidelines passes for the Hokies' football game against Pitt. Friday also marks the Corps of Cadets Appreciation, with each Cadet receiving vouchers for small popcorn. The giveaway for Sunday's match will consist of 200 reusable bags.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

GEORGIA TECH

• The Yellow Jackets enter Week 11 of the season with an 11-12 overall record and 6-6 reading in conference play. Georgia Tech is coming off this past weekend with splitting its two matches versus Duke (L, 1-3) and Wake Forest (W, 3-1).

• Head coach Michelle Collier is in her fourth year in Atlanta. Collier, who played internationally and garnered the Indonesian League MVP, played college volleyball at South Florida, earning All-America honors. She has improved the Yellow Jackets since her arrival, guiding the school to its 700th win in program history.

• Senior Gabriela Stavnetchei leads the ACC in kills this season, pounding down 345 in 23 matches. Stavnetchei in Georgia Tech’s most recent matchup tallied her ninth double-double of the fall, while freshman Alessia Del Romano turned in a career-high 15 digs. Del Romano is a native of Italy, where Virginia Tech’s Ester Talamazzi is from as well. The two cities of Bologna and Genoa are three hours and 30 minutes apart.

• The all-time series stands at 15-9 in Georgia Tech’s favor. The Yellow Jackets have won four of the last five matches, dating back to 2013. Georgia Tech won the last matchup in The Flats, 3-0, on Nov. 4, 2016.

CLEMSON

• The Tigers enter the weekend with a 7-17 overall record and are 2-10 in ACC play. Clemson took on Wake Forest and Duke as well, taking down the Demon Deacons, 3-0, and falling to the Blue Devils, 3-0.

• Outside hitter Kaylin Korte paces the Tigers with a team-best 255 kills, while owning the second-most digs on the team with 175. Korte is coming off a team-high 10-kill performance against the Blue Devils. Libero Madi Howell has scooped up 278 digs, averaging 3.47 digs per set.

• Michaela Franklin is in her first year in Clemson. Franklin is one of four new ACC head coaches, as Louisville hired Dani Busboom Kelly, Virginia hired Aaron Smith and Virginia Tech hired Jill Wilson. Of the four coaches, Franklin owns the third-best winning percentage (.412). Franklin comes most recently from Iowa, where she was the associate head coach for three years leading Iowa to two AVCA Top 25 wins in 2016.

• In 28 meetings, Clemson owns the all-time series 17-11. Last year, Tech got the best of Clemson, winning 3-1 at Clemson on Nov. 6. The Hokies have won the last three matches against the Tigers.

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