BLACKSBURG, Va. — William & Mary edged out Virginia Tech in a thrilling five-set match at Cassell Coliseum on Friday night, securing a 3-2 victory with set scores of 25-18, 21-25, 27-25, 17-25, and 15-12.
This was W&M's first win over a Power Four opponent since beating Clemson in 2016, and its first victory over the Hokies since 2000. It also marks the first career win for head coach Kellie Catanach Johnson.
The Tribe (1-1) split the opening day of the Hokie Invitational after falling to Coppin State earlier in the afternoon.
GAME ONE VS. COPPIN STATE
In the season opener, the Tribe staged a furious rally to win the second set 26-24 but could not maintain momentum as Coppin State (1-0) won in four sets.
W&M began the first set with early momentum, going ahead 6-3 early with contributions from
Emily McKee and a block by
Teagan Pocius and
Katherine Arnason. However, the Eagles quickly rallied to take the lead.
Midway through the set, W&M regained traction, closing the gap to 15-12 after a kill by
Olivia Westfort. The Tribe continued to fight back, but the Eagles secured the set with a final kill, closing at 25-19.
The Green and Gold initiated a strong comeback in the second set after trailing Coppin State early. Pocius delivered pivotal kills, while
Cate Hatfield orchestrated the offense with several key assists.
Coppin State maintained a lead of up to five points at 20-15, but William & Mary mounted a resilient response. In the closing stages, Pocius contributed a critical kill to level the score at 24-24. The Tribe completed the comeback, securing the set 26-24.
Coppin State capitalized on William & Mary's errors in the third set, jumping to an 8-0 lead and never looking back in a 25-17 victory.
In the fourth set,
Sophia Van Name had several kills in her first action. Both teams traded points until Coppin State took control at 19-17 following a service ace.
W&M kept the score close, but Coppin State capitalized on late Tribe miscues and sealed the set 25-21 to earn the win.
GAME TWO VS. VIRGINIA TECH
William & Mary opened the first set against Virginia Tech with a strong start.
Audrey Brcka and Arnason powered the visitor's offense with key kills.
The Tribe's balanced attack continued to pressure Virginia Tech, with Westfort and Pocius joining the offensive effort. Despite a brief rally by Virginia Tech to close the gap, the Tribe secured the set with a decisive 25-18 victory.
William & Mary took control early in the second set, with Brcka leading a strong offensive push. Brcka recorded multiple kills, each assisted by Hatfield, propelling the Tribe to a 7-3 lead.
Despite this momentum, the Hokies countered with a series of blocks and key plays, including a service ace by Camdynn Gonzalez, closing the gap and eventually overtaking William & Mary. Reese Hazelton's decisive kills helped Virginia Tech secure the set, concluding with a final score of 25-21 in favor of the home team.
The Tribe orchestrated a crucial momentum swing late in the third set to secure a victory over Virginia Tech. Trailing 24-22, W&M capitalized on an attack error by Reese Hazelton to tie the score at 24-24. Brcka's kill, assisted by Arnason and combined with a block error by Layla Moore, gave William & Mary a narrow 25-24 lead.
Virginia Tech momentarily evened the score, but Westfort delivered back-to-back kills, including the decisive point, sealing the set in favor of William & Mary. The game ended with William & Mary triumphing 27-25.
Virginia Tech capitalized on errors in the fourth set and managed a decisive run towards the end, ultimately posting a 25-17 victory.
The Tribe seized momentum early in the fifth set with a series of key plays, highlighted by Brcka's kill and Arnason's service ace, establishing a firm lead at 8-4. The Green & Gold continued to press forward, with contributions from Westfort and
Regan Hill's service ace extending the advantage to 11-7.
Despite Virginia Tech's efforts to close the gap, William & Mary maintained their lead, with Brcka delivering the decisive kill for a 15-12 victory.
STAT NUGGETS
- Hatfield had a career-high 44 assists against Virginia Tech, marking a career-high and the most in a single game since Amy Schwem on Sep. 18, 2021 against Northeastern.
- Brcka added 18 kills against the Hokies.
- Arnason chipped in 14 kills in the victory.
- Avery Horejsi collected 19 digs.
- Westfort posted seven kills with a .583 hitting percentage against Coppin State, adding six blocks.
UP NEXT
W&M concludes the Hokie Invitational against Kent State on Sunday at 11 a.m.
