Fresh off a straight-set sweep of Virginia, Virginia Tech volleyball now turns its attention towards a northeast travel schedule consisting of Boston College on Friday, Oct. 23, and Syracuse on Sunday, Oct. 25.

After snapping a five-game losing skid with their win over UVa., the Hokies (5-12, 2-6 ACC) look to reverse their fortunes away from Cassell Coliseum. Through eight games, Virginia Tech’s only won once at a true road location, beating Clemson on Sept. 27 in four sets.

The good news? Both are opponents the Hokies toppled in the 2025 season. Virginia Tech beat Boston College on Oct. 5, 2025, for its first ACC win in Cassell Coliseum at the time since Nov. 19, 2023. The Hokies split their 2025 season series with Syracuse, losing 3-1 at home on Oct. 3 before a four-set victory in the season finale on Nov. 28.

“We always go game by game,” said Virginia Tech outside hitter Destiny Walker after the team’s three-set victory over Virginia Oct. 16. “We never look more forward than the game we have next. We always have it in mind but… in-game, we always focus point by point. It’s the same with match by match, like we have no rush.”

Here’s a look at how both Boston College and Syracuse stack up in this year’s matchups:

Boston College

The Eagles (10-9, 1-7 ACC) enter Friday’s tilt on a seven-game skid, though they hold a 6-4 record in the friendly confines of Margot Connell Recreation Center. Boston College won its ACC opener against Notre Dame in four sets, though it dropped its next seven contests. Four ended in straight sets, while only one — Wake Forest — went the full five sets.

Two seniors have anchored the Eagles' offense this season: outside hitter Audrey Ross and opposite hitter Sam Hoppes. The two, who average 4.43 and 2.28 kills per set, respectively, have combined for 450 of Boston College’s 777 kills as a team.

In conference play, they’ve accounted for 181 of the Eagles’ 312 kills — a 58% clip.

In Boston College’s last matchup – Georgia Tech in Atlanta on Oct. 18 — the Eagles were swept being out-hit 46-34. Ross recorded 13 kills, while the Yellow Jackets limited Hoppes to two kills. Hoppes has not totaled double-digit kills since Boston College’s victory over Notre Dame on Sept. 25.

The Eagles opened the season with five straight wins before falling in straight sets to Vanderbilt in the Showdown at the Net event in Chestnut Hill, Mass., on Sept. 9. Boston College won its next five games before a four-set loss at Dartmouth that concluded non-conference play.

In league play, four Eagles are averaging more than one kill per set this season: Ross (4.55k/s), Hoppes (1.69), outside hitter Sofija Marjanovic (1.28) and middle blocker Reese Dunkle (1.1).

For comparison, six Hokies are slamming at least one kill a set: Walker leads the way with 2.79 kills per set followed by outside hitter Adeline Hundl (1.95), right side hitter Frances Torres (1.90), outside hitters Reese Hazelton (1.7) and Isabela Lopez (1.44), and middle blocker Isabella Mishler (1.28).

Syracuse

Syracuse's struggles have been equally pronounced, with the Orange still searching for their first victory since Sept. 18. The Orange (5-12, 0-8 ACC) were swept in their last three matches against Wake Forest, Georgia Tech and Clemson, blowing a seven-point second-set lead to the Tigers on Oct. 18 and losing the third set 35-33. Before Sunday, Syracuse and Clemson were the only teams without any wins in conference play.

The Orange lost their top six kill leaders from 2025 in Gabrielle McLaughlin (graduation), Skylar George (Rutgers), Sydnie Walker (Mississippi State), Soana Lea’ea (graduation), Zharia Harris-Waddy (Rutgers) and Tehya Maeva (Boise State).

This season, Kennesaw State transfer Kiernan Stamey has spearheaded Syracuse’s offensive attack. The 6-foot outside hitter spent two seasons with the Owls, racking up 432 kills before making the move to the Orange.

Through 17 matches, Stamey has totaled a team-high 206 kills, more than doubling the output of Syracuse’s next-closest contributor, fifth-year middle blocker Abby Nicholson (94). Stamey has reached double-digit kills in 13 of those 17 contests, including 11 against Georgia Tech and 13 against Clemson.

Nicholson, who arrived at Syracuse after four seasons at Lafayette, is one of several transfers making an impact for the Orange. Outside hitter/pin hitter Emma Williams, Syracuse’s third-leading attacker with 81 kills, is another newcomer bolstering the offensive attack.

Among Syracuse’s returning players, sophomore Marie Laurio has led the way with 80 kills, already surpassing her 55-kill total from her freshman campaign. The 5-foot-11 outside hitter’s best performance came in a four-set loss to Arkansas on Sept. 9, when she registered a season-high 15 kills.

Syracuse’s struggles have extended to both home and away contests, with the Orange finding their most success at neutral sites (3-1). Syracuse is just 1-6 at home and 1-5 on the road, with eight of its nine losses in its current skid coming in straight sets. The lone exception was a four-set defeat to NC State, though the Orange also faced a daunting stretch featuring then-No. 3 Louisville, then-No. 5 SMU and then-No. 2 Pitt across four matches.

Virginia Tech’s game against Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Mass., is set for Friday at 7 p.m. ET, while first serve for its Sunday showdown with Syracuse is set for 1 p.m. ET. Both contests are available for viewing on ACC Network Extra.