Freshman Kirsty Blue jumps up for a potential spike against two Boston College players during the Hokies' sweep of the Eagles on Nov. 14.
WOMEN'S HOOPS HOLDS ON IN OPENER
An energetic Virginia Tech women's basketball team took to the floor for the first time this year in Cassell Coliseum to beat the Spartans of UNC Greensboro 59-53 on Friday night.
Thanks to the late shooting of guard Lindsay Biggs, scoring six points over the final 1:47, the Hokies preserved the victory.
Tech scored 10 unanswered points in the opening minutes to build a large lead, along with stifling play on the other end of the floor.
Junior guard Lakeisha Logan led the team with 10 points after the first half. Junior forward Utahya Drye trailed Logan with nine points and shoT 50 percent from the field.
At the close of the first half, the Hokies were comfortably leading the Spartans by a score of 37-18.
The Spartans quickly closed the lead at the beginning of the second half to 37-26 with seven unanswered points before a Hokie timeout.
UNC Greensboro was able to close within three points during the closing minutes of the game while fans held their breath as flashbacks surfaced from last season's many close defeats.
Drye lead her teammates with 15 total points followed by Biggs with 14, and Logan with 12.
Lakiah Hyson and Amanda Leigh both led the Spartans in total points with 11 each.
Despite the loss of their star guard Brittany Cook, who is out for the season with a torn ACL, Tech was able to beat UNC Greensboro to start the season on the winning foot.
One individual who stepped up was Logan, who beat her previous career-high of five points -- finishing with 12.
The Hokies will try to open up with a two-game win streak when they host the Radford Highlanders tonight at 7 p.m. in Cassell.
--by Hattie Francis
VOLLEYBALL ENDS HOME SEASON WITH SWEEPS
The Tech volleyball team finished off the home portion of its schedule in positive fashion, sweeping Boston College and Maryland over the weekend.
Clearly overmatched, BC fell victim to the Hokies in straight sets on Friday afternoon, 25-9, 25-17 and 25-16.
Sophomore Felicia Willoughby led the charge, picking up 14 kills and no errors to go along with an outstanding .778 attack percentage.
Tech (20-8, 11-6 ACC) came out on fire, taking a quick 7-1 lead without much of a challenge.
The Hokies eventually finished off the Eagles on a thunderous Willoughby kill, ending the set in less than 20 minutes.
The Eagles started the second set with some success, taking a 4-1 lead. But Tech quickly responded with five consecutive points.
Despite their sloppy play, Boston College hung in with the Hokies, but freshman Justine Record killed any momentum BC had left with back-to-back aces -- sparking a 6-2 run which helped Tech win the set, 25-17.
The Hokies again played terrific defense, holding the Eagles to a .207 hitting percentage and only allowing nine kills.
As the third set began, the Eagles were clearly deflated, playing sluggishly and unable to keep up.
Boston College got down early, giving Tech a 14-3 lead that would not be relinquished. The Hokies cleared the bench before taking the set, 25-16.
The next evening, Sarah Muoz and Kristen Cunningham were honored on Senior Night, prior to Tech's straight-set win over Maryland.
The Hokies built momentum beginning in the middle of the first set. Led by Cunningham, who tallied five kills in the frame and posted a .833 attack percentage, the Hokies never gave up the lead after the score was tied at 11.
The second set was more of the same as Tech built a 12-7 advantage. Willoughby led the Hokies in the second set with five kills as they went on to win 25-19.
Maryland would come back, however, building a 6-11 lead in the third set. But, a strong 9-3 run by the Hokies, ending with two Willoughby kills and a service ace by Muoz, gave Tech the 15-14 lead that they did not surrender. Tech took the third set 25-19, finishing off the Terps with a five-point run and a final Cunningham kill.
The Hokies finish the season with three straightaway matches at Wake Forest, Duke and Virginia.
-- by Joe Crandley and Steven Malik
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