CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - It was billed as the ACC Challenge, but the home conference ruled the roost Sunday as the three schools representing the ACC went a combined 8-1 at the Eddie Smith Field House. Virginia Tech held its own with a banged-up lineup in beating American, Bucknell and Gardner-Webb to run its record to 4-1 on the young season.

“Overall, any time you can compete, you make progress,” said head coach Kevin Dresser. “We’ve still got some young guys who need to see some competition. We made some progress today, but we still have a lot of stepps to take to get this team wo where it needs to be. But overall, I’m pleased and we’ll go back to work on Tuesday.”

In the opener, Tech used bonus points at three weight classes and a strong finish to beat a tough American squad, 21-13. Freshman Erik Spjut got the Hokies on the board at 133 pounds with a tight 3-2 win before No. 7 Chris Diaz picked up a major decision at 141 pounds to make it 7-3. But American came back with two wins in a row to snatch the lead back at 10-7 before Matt Epperly gave the Hokies an 11-10 lead with a major decision at 165 pounds. Anthony Trongone gutted out a 3-2 win at 174 pounds to give Tech a four-point lead with three matches left. At 184 pounds, fourth-ranked Mike Cannon beat 17th-ranked Tommy Spellman of Tech to make it 14-13.

The dual meet came down to the Miller brothers for the Hokies, Tim Miller at 197 pounds and Andrew Miller at heavyweight making his collegiate debut. Tim picked up a big bonus point with a dominating 12-3 major decision to give baby brother Andrew some breathing room. But Andrew didn’t need it as he was impressive in his first match, winning 10-4 and sealing the 21-13 win.

In the second round of matches, D.J. Bruce saved the day with a pin late in his match in the final bout to help lift the Hokies to a 19-17, come-from-behind win over Bucknell. Schuyler Swanton got the Hokies on the board with an 11-2 major decision at 125 pounds, but Bucknell matched that with a major decision at 141 pounds. Diaz picked up a 7-1 at 141 pounds before Pete Yates suffered his second loss of the day, a 15-2 major decision. The Hokies took the lead back with a 2-0 win from Jesse Dong at 157 pounfs, but the Bison picked up two-straight wins to make it 14-10 with three matches left. A top-20 matchup was up next and Spellman got the best of No. 19 David Thompson at 184 pounds for a huge win. At 197 pounds, Bucknell got a win to take a 17-13 lead into the final bouth. With time running out on Bruce and the Hokies, he managed to pick up a pin with 25 seconds left to send the Hokie bench into a celebration as they came from behind to win 21-19.

In the final round, the Hokies rolled from the beginning and won eight of nine matches contested en route to an easy 46-3 win over Gardner-Webb. Swanton got things starterd with a 13-4 major decision at 125 pounds and then Spjut picked up his first collegiate pin late in the first period. Diaz (tech fall), Yates (injury default) and Dong (tech fall) all rolled to make things ugly. Epperly and Trongone picked up major decisions and then Spellman made quick work of Dave Sweeney, pinning him in just 54 seconds. The Bulldogs won their first match of the day when Travis Porter beat Tech’s Tim Miller in overtime ay 197 pounds and Bruce was the recipient of a forfeit win at heavyweight.

For the day, the ACC went 8-1 with the Hokies and Virginia going 3-0 with the Tar Heels going 2-1.

Tech (4-1) will be back on the mats next weekend at the Navy Classic on Saturday in Annapolis, Md. The next dual matches will be on Friday, Nov. 27 as the Hokies host Newberry and Campbell as Cassell Coliseum.

#24 Virginia Tech (2-1) 21, American (0-1) 13
125: Jasen Borshoff (AU) dec. Schuyler Swanton, 4-2
133: Erik Spjut (VT) dec. Thomas Williams, 3-2
141: #7 Chris Diaz (VT) maj. dec. Jordan Lipp, 14-2
149: #4 Kyle Borshoff (AU) dec. #15 Pete Yates, 6-3
157: Steve Fittery (AU) maj. dec. #15 Jesse Dong, 15-6
165: Matt Epperly (VT) maj. dec. Tanner Shaffer, 14-4
174: Anthony Trongone (VT) dec. Thomas Barreiro, 3-2
184: #4 Mike Cannon (AU) dec. #17 Tommy Spellman, 7-2
197: Tim Miller (VT) maj. dec. Kenneth Clessas, 12-3
285: Andrew Miller (VT) dec. Mingo Grant, 10-4

#24 Virginia Tech (3-1) 19, Bucknell (0-2) 17
125: Schuyler Swanton (VT) maj. dec. Derrik Russell, 11-2
133: #13 David Marble (BU) maj. dec. Erik Spjut, 12-4
141: #7 Chris Diaz (VT) dec. Zac Hancock, 7-1
149: Kevin LeValley (BU) maj. dec. #15 Pete Yates, 15-2
157: #15 Jesse Dong (VT) dec. Brantley Hooks, 2-0
165: #6 Andy Rendos (BU) dec. Matt Epperly, 9-7
174: #13 Shane Riccio (BU) dec. Anthony Trongone, 5-1
184: #17 Tommy Spellman (VT) dec. #19 David Thompson, 3-2
197: Joe McMullan (BU) dec. Tim Miller, 4-3
285: D.J. Bruce (VT) fall Conor Sweeney, 6:35

#24 Virginia Tech (4-1) 46, Gardner-Webb (0-3) 3
125: Schuyler Swanton (VT) maj. dec. Brett Kostern, 13-4
133: Erik Spjut (VT) fall Marc Rocha, 2:04
141: #7 Chris Diaz (VT) tech fall Kurt Wentick, 16-1
149: #15 Pete Yates (VT) inj. def. Ryan Medved
157: #15 Jesse Dong (VT) tech fall Alex Medved, 16-1
165: Matt Epperly (VT) maj. dec. David Pelsang, 20-6
174: Anthony Trongone (VT) maj. dec. Blake Sayler, 8-0
184: #17 Tommy Spellman (VT) fall Dave Sweeney, 0:54
197: Travis Porter (GWU) dec. Tim Miller, 3-1 (SV)
285: D.J. Bruce (VT) wins via forfeit