Collegiate Times

Senior Katie Esbrook led the Virginia Tech Women?s Volleyball team through a loss and a win in an Atlantic Coast Conference match-filled weekend. The Hokies fell to the Florida State Seminoles Friday evening, 3-1, and defeated the Miami Hurricanes Saturday, 3-1. With the matches, Tech earned a 11-8 record on the season and 5-5 in conference.

?We would have liked to go 2-0, but it was still a good weekend,? said senior captain Allie Kupec. ?Florida State is a great team, one of the best in the conference, and Miami was right about even with us.?

On Friday against the Seminoles, Esbrook marked a season-high of 15 kills on 28 swings and earned a match-high 18 kills Saturday against the Hurricanes.

?Katie Esbrook played really well offensively both nights,? Kupec said. ?She?s a huge threat on the floor.?

Florida State opened strong winning the first two games, 30-25 and 30-26. Tech refused to go out quietly, fighting back in the third game to win, 30-26. After a back-and-forth battle, the Seminoles triumphed in the fourth game, 31-29.

Along with Esbrook, sophomore Sarah Munoz registered 11 kills and 13 digs, her eighth double-double of the season. Freshman Taylor Parrish added 10 kills while junior Jen Albrecht contributed six, and senior Allie Kupece earned a career-high three solo blocks and a total of six.

?It?s great to see Sarah Munoz stepping up,? said Kupec. ?She had double-doubles in both games.?

On Saturday, the Hokies dominated the first game, jumping ahead 10-0 before finishing the Hurricanes 30-23. Miami responded with the hard-earned win in the second game, 30-28.

In game two Tech again took an early lead, 7-2, and never relinquished, easily winning the game, 30-19. Miami fought for game four, but eventually fell, 28-30.

The Hokies earned season-highs with 75 kills and 63 assists. Tech out-hit Miami, .295 to .167, and registered 74 kills compared to the Hurricanes? 58. Munoz recorded her ninth double-double with 13 kills and 11 digs. Junior Amanda Cloyd earned a match-high 22 digs while freshman Michelle Lang marked a personal-best 56 assists.

?We were on a four game losing streak before Miami,? Kupec said. ?It was important for us to win and get out of the slump.? Tech continues ACC play Friday Oct. 20 with a 7 p.m. match against Georgia Tech in Cassell Coliseum.

?Although we didn?t beat Florida State, we played a lot more as a team,? Kupec said. ?As long as we consistently get better and not regress, we?ll do great in the ACC.?