Collegiate Times

Tech's Emily Jukich and Duke's Shelia Kramer battle for possesion during the Hokies' upset win over the No. 11 Blue Devils on Sunday afternoon.

WOMEN'S TENNIS IMPRESSES AT HOKIE INVITATIONAL

The Tech women's tennis team finished the fall season at the 15th- annual Hokie Fall Invitational, winning three singles titles and one doubles title.

The Hokies opened up the event on a high note Friday, winning all 15 singles and doubles matches. More impressively, they didn't lose a single set.

Coming into the match, the team had struggled in conference play, winning only two of 11 matches with an overall record of 14-13.

The Hokies extended their success into Saturday, winning five singles matches and three doubles matches. Sophomore Yasmin Hamza defeated East Tennessee State's Andra Voinea in two sets and then defeated Marshall's Catherine Kellner in the semi-final.

On Sunday, two freshmen -- Martha Blakely and Shannon Betts -- won their respective singles brackets while senior Abby Walker won her respective match. Walker also won the doubles title alongside Hamza.

Blakely defeated teammate Courtney Rauscher on Sunday in the Flight C singles final, winning in three sets.

Betts defeated Hannah Fick of Liberty University in two sets, wrapping up a dominating weekend in which she didn't lose a single set.

Walker also didn't lose a set in the tournament, defeating Chattanooga's Brianna Wishing in two sets. Virginia's Neela Vaez defeated Hamza in two sets in the Flight B final.

However, Hamza was able to rebound with Walker in the Flight B doubles final by defeating teammates Betts and Katie Blow, 8-5.

Blakely, who won the singles Flight C title on Sunday against teammate Rauscher, was excited to have a tournament on the Tech campus.

Although the team has struggled, Coach Terry Ann Zawacki-Woods had a very positive attitude about the upcoming spring season. Blakely has high expectations for the spring season.

This tournament included 82 players from 13 teams, and represented 20 different countries. The Hokies will open their spring season on Jan. 28, when they host Elon and Longwood.

--by Justin Cocchiola

VOLLEYBALL FALLS TO GEORGIA TECH, CLEMSON

The Virginia Tech volleyball team continued to struggle over the weekend, dropping matches to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Clemson Tigers.

On Friday night, Virginia Tech traveled to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech, losing in straight sets, 24-26, 24-26, 19-25.

While the sets were close, Virginia Tech only managed a .191 hitting percentage and committed 18 errors in the match.

In the nine-player rotation, only sophomore Felicia Willoughby and junior Taylor Parrish managed to hit over a .200 percentage.

The Hokies remained on the road Saturday, traveling to Clemson to face the Tigers. Tech's play did not improve, again losing in straight sets, 20-25, 20-25, 11-25.

The Hokies tallied only 27 kills in the match and picked up 24 errors, totaling an anemic .030 hitting percentage. Clemson had a .322 hitting percentage, the highest total the Hokies have allowed all season.

Tech has now lost four out of their last five matches and has dropped to 17-7 overall and 8-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

With the two losses this weekend, the Hokies have fallen from first tied for fifth in the ACC, but are only two games behind first place. The Hokies return to Cassell Coliseum this weekend to face North Carolina State at 7 p.m. Friday and North Carolina at 6 p.m. Saturday.

--by Joe Crandley

MEN'S SOCCER SUFFERS ROAD SHUTOUT

The Tech men's soccer team lost its final road contest of the season to the North Carolina State Wolfpack, 2-0, Saturday night in Raleigh. With the loss, Tech fell to 5-11-1 on the season and to 0-7-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

The Wolfpack capped the victory with a goal in the 88th minute from midfielder Chris Zuerner, who was able to dribble through the Tech defense and net the ball past goalkeeper Thomas St. Germain.

St. Germain started his fifth game of the season for the Hokies and made four saves.

Wolfpack midfielder Alan Sanchez got NC State on the board in the 24th minute of the game when he propelled a long shot off a loose ball into the back of the net.

The Hokies tallied 11 shots against the Wolfpack and freshman defender Tobias Hottner led with four shots.

Junior forward Brendan Dunn had three shots off the bench while freshman midfielder Hunter Cheatham contributed with two.

With one match left on the season, the Hokies secured last place in the final conference standings.

--by Ed Lupien

WOMEN'S SOCCER UPSETS NO. 11 DUKE

The women's soccer team stunned the No. 11-ranked Duke Blue Devils, shutting them out 1-0 on Sunday afternoon at Thompson Field.

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