Virginia Tech volleyball couldn’t capitalize on a second-set lead Friday night, falling to Boston College in straight sets in Chestnut Hill, Mass. and sustaining its seventh sweep of the 2026 season.
The Hokies (5-13, 2-7 ACC) held a 24-23 advantage in set two before the Eagles (11-9, 2-7 ACC) scored three consecutive points to take a 2-0 set lead. Virginia Tech also made a late push in the third set but could not overcome an eight-point deficit. Both the second and third sets were decided by three of fewer points, residing at 26-24 and 25-22 finals, respectively.
Outside hitter Destiny Walker led Virginia Tech with 11 kills on 29 attacks, while fellow pin hitter Reese Hazelton recorded seven kills, 11 digs and four service aces. Boston College was led by outside hitter Audrey Ross, who recorded a match-high 16 kills, while opposite Sam Hoppes added 10 kills on 19 attacks without an attacking error. Ross hasn’t hit below double-digit kills this entire season and wreaked havoc on the Hokies to the tune of a .205 hitting clip.
Virginia Tech and Boston College traded points early in the opening set, with the Eagles taking a 6-3 lead following an attacking error by right side hitter Frances Torres. The Hokies cut the deficit to one at 6-5 after Ross committed an attacking error, but Boston College responded with five of the next six points to extend its advantage to 11-6.
Tech responded with three consecutive points later in the set, trimming Boston College’s lead to 15-12. However, the Eagles scored six of the set’s next seven points to take a 21-13 advantage. Virginia Tech managed to pull within four at 22-18, but Boston College closed the set with three consecutive points to win the first set, 25-18.
After dropping the opening set, Virginia Tech possessed an opportunity to even the match in a second set that featured 14 ties and six lead changes — though it couldn’t capitalize. Boston College opened with a 4-1 advantage, but the Hokies clawed back, tying the set at 5-5 following a Walker kill.
Virginia Tech eventually extended its lead to 12-9 following consecutive attacking errors by the Eagles, but Boston College responded with three straight points to tie the set. Neither team established a lead larger than two points over the next several exchanges. With Virginia Tech leading 18-17, Boston College scored four consecutive points, including a Ross kill, to take a 21-18 advantage.
The Hokies responded with a late rally.
After a Hazelton kill cut the deficit to 22-20, the junior recorded a service ace before Walker tied the set at 22-22 with a kill. A Ross attack error gave Virginia Tech a 23-22 lead, but Boston College tied the score on a setting error by middle blocker Georgia Trexler. Trexler started at blocker in her first appearance of the season.
Walker followed with another kill to give the Hokies set point, but Boston College responded with three consecutive points. A block by Hoppes and middle blocker Reese Dunkle tied the set before Ross recorded a kill and a service ace to secure the 26-24 second-set victory.
The Eagles carried their momentum into the third set, opening with three consecutive points before Virginia Tech tied the score at 3-3 behind a Hazelton service ace and a Walker kill. Boston College regained control shortly afterward, using a three-point run to take an 8-4 lead and subsequently extending its advantage to 15-9.
The Eagles eventually built a 20-12 lead behind three consecutive kills from Hoppes. Virginia Tech answered with a kill from middle blocker Isabella Mishler, but Boston College maintained its advantage, moving within two points of the sweep at 23-15.
After a block by Isabela Lopez and Trexler, Virginia Tech scored three more consecutive points behind two kills and a Boston College attacking error, cutting the deficit to 23-19. Ross stopped the run with a kill to give the Eagles match point at 24-19, but Virginia Tech responded with three straight points.
Walker recorded a kill before Hazelton delivered her fourth service ace of the match, bringing the Hokies within two at 24-22. Dunkle, however, punctuated Boston College’s day with her fourth kill of the day, securing the 25-22 third-set victory and completing Boston College’s sweep. Virginia Tech hit .200 in the final set, recording 10 kills and three errors — though Boston College was better, ending with 16 kills and a .227 hitting percentage.
The Hokies finished the match with eight service aces — including four from Hazelton — but committed nine service errors. Walker was the only Virginia Tech player to reach double-digit kills, while Hazelton and Ivy Cooper each finished with 11 digs.
Boston College’s sideout percentages never dipped below 58%, while Virginia Tech’s never topped 54%. The largest disparity came in the first set, which saw an 18-point difference (Clemson: 63%, Virginia Tech: 45%).
The Hokies have Syracuse next up on deck on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 1 p.m. ET, before returning home for a pair of bouts in Cassell Coliseum. Those matchups will be against Florida State on Friday, Oct. 30 (6 p.m. ET) and Miami on Sunday, Nov. 1 (1 p.m. ET).
