Volleyball splits matches with UVA, Virginia Tech

The Jackets split the series of matches from last weekend at home.

The Jackets suffered a surprising comeback win from the UVA Cavaliers last Friday. Tech still posted big numbers on the scoreboard but lost due to close plays.

"We played great ball and we got beaten at home, but we're so competitive, we'll always be there fighting and the home crowd really helps us give us energy," said Nikki Kaminskas, a hitter for the Jackets.

Tech's offense highlighted top players from around the court. Second-year Brittany Roderick, a right-side hitter who has been under guidance of the nationally recognized senior Ulrike Stegemann, posted personal records of nine kills and four digs throughout the night. Third-year Allie Niekamp successfully returned to ACC play by setting up key plays for the Jackets.

"I really don't know what went wrong last night because statistically, we did well. It was an unlikely night," said Talisa Kellogg, a starting hitter for the Jackets.

The Jackets slowed down the Cavaliers' key starters by stopping their ability to make many successful hits. Nikki Kaminskas played well at crucial points in the match and against the net. After adding nine blocks against the Cavaliers, she moves up the school record books in career blocks and block-assists.

Regardless, the Jackets could not keep up at the end of game three but still holding onto a 2-1 advantage. The two teams battled in a breath-taking game four. With the game tied at 30 points apiece, the Cavaliers managed to get a kill and block Stegemann's attempt for a last-minute point.

With even more tight competition in the tiebreaker game, the Jackets attempted to bring their full force to the crowd.

Senior Lindsey Gray posted key plays and put the Jackets within just four points of clinching the game. However, last-minute kills stopped the Jackets' road to victory as the Cavaliers won the very tightly-played match.

After coming off an emotional roller-coaster night, Tech was determined not to let another opponent come to Atlanta and steal the win.

"We always play to win. We always go on the court, fighting to win," Kaminskas said.

Against Virginia Tech, Talisa Kellogg displayed another amazing night on the court. She was an important asset for the team through getting heavy attacks and committing game-clinching kills. Overall, the third-year hitter had 18 kills and 9 digs in the night and is Tech's current active leader in kills.

"We were more focused, we paid more attention to detail and worked on our passing," Kellogg said.

The Jackets came into game three with a 1-1 tie and the strong hitting of Kellogg and Gray throughout the night. Niekamp achieved a serve ace to lead game three preceding a tight-angle kill by Kellogg. In game four, Gray committed a key attack to put the Jackets within the realms of match-point. Then, Kellogg had another amazing attack to put the ball in the far corner of the opponent's court leaving the Hokies awed and speechless.

"We're just trying to go as a team, keep the chemistry going and play as hard we can.... This is something that we're really doing differently this year, just really trying to dig in and be aggressive...It paid off tonight," Kellogg said.