December 9, 2003

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Virginia Tech, following victories over Old Dominion and Alabama last week, moved up in both of the national polls. The Hokies advanced two spots to No. 18 in this week's USA Today/ESPN/WBCA coaches poll and three places to No. 20 in the Associated Press poll. The Hokies debuted two weeks ago at No. 24 in the coaches poll before moving up to No. 20 last week. Tech made its' first appearance last week in the Associated Press poll at No. 23.

The Hokies defeated Old Dominion, 79-72, Wednesday night before winning at Alabama, 68-51, Sunday afternoon. Tech is 6-0 for only the second time in the program's history with the 1998-99 team also getting a quick start out of the gate. The 1998-99 squad opened the season 18-0 and finished 28-3 with an NCAA "Sweet Sixteen" appearance.

The Hokies will put their rankings on the line Saturday when the Hokies host Maryland at 2 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum where they are 76-15 (.835) under coach Bonnie Henrickson. Tech is 2-0 at home this season and has won 21 of its' last 23 home contest.

Ieva Kublina (Sr., Riga, Latvia), a first-team preseason All-BIG EAST selection, is one of four players in double-figures and leads the team averaging 14.3 points and 2.5 blocks per game. Kublina is currently second at Tech in career blocks (198), fifth in rebounds (685), seventh at Tech in career points (1,307), ninth in three-points field goals made (61).

Carrie Mason (So., Seneca, Pa.) is averaging 13.8 points while Dawn Chriss (So., Hillcrest Heights, Md.) and Erin Gibson (Jr., Galax, Va.) follow with 12.8 and 12.5 points respectively.