April 21, 2006

BLACKSBURG, Va. - The Virginia Tech volleyball team has released its schedule for the 2006 season. The season begins with three tournaments, including the Hokie Invite, before Tech plays each team in the Atlantic Coast Conference twice.

The season starts out with tournaments at East Carolina and Auburn. The East Carolina tournament also includes Furman and William & Mary. Tech faces a challenging tournament in Auburn this fall. The Tigers play in the tough Southeastern Conference, while Arizona State is out of a strong Pacific-10 Conference that boasts the defending national champion. Purdue finished the season ranked No. 17 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll.

Tech hosts the Hokie Invite on Sept. 8-9 in Cassell Coliseum. George Washington, Liberty and Appalachian State come into Blacksburg to compete for the title.

ACC play begins on Friday, Sept. 15 against in-state rival Virginia in Blacksburg.

Last season the ACC changed its volleyball schedule to a home-and-home format and discontinued the conference tournament.

Highlights of the upcoming season include matches with 2005 NCAA Tournament participants Maryland, Duke and North Carolina, with games also coming against ACC volleyball powerhouse Georgia Tech. NC State, Boston College, Wake Forest, Miami, Florida State and Clemson round out the ACC schedule.

Tech returns nine players, including five starters and the starting libero from the 2005 campaign.

Juniors Katie Esbrook and Allie Kupec return at middle blocker. Esbrook had a team-high 118 blocks last year, averaging 3.26 kills per game. Kupec tallied 2.46 kills per game. Freshman Sarah MuÒoz and sophomore Jen Albrecht provide a strong one-two punch at outside and right side hitter, respectively. Munoz led the team with 356 kills, while Albrecht significantly improved from her freshman season, earning a starting spot and averaging 2.28 kills per game.

Sophomore Amanda Cloyd returns at libero. She set a Tech record for digs in a season last year with 536. With the graduation of four-year starting setter Melissa Markowski, freshman Kirstyn Godwin will look to contend for the starting spot.

Others coming back for 2005 include sophomore Rachel Dulla, who tore her ACL after playing in 16 games last year in the back row yet still had seven service aces, junior Kendra Sytsma (40 kills) and freshman Cathy Jansen.

The volleyball team will be joined by four players who signed with the Hokies in the fall. Taylor Parrish of Brentwood, Tenn., was named a high school All-American by PrepVolleyball.com following her senior season. She was also a finalist for PrepVolleyball.com's Player of the Year award. Parrish led Harpeth Hall to a state title in 2005, and was the Most Valuable Player of the state tournament.

Michelle Lang of Valparaiso, Ind., was also named as a top senior by PrepVolleyball.com. Rachel Fahlenkamp of McGregor, Texas and Betsy Horowitz of Charlotte, N.C. round out the 2006 freshman class.