Tech downs RU in five sets
Behind sophomore Kaity Smith’s double-double, Virginia Tech’s volleyball team defeated Radford 3-2 on Thursday at Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum in an exhibition.
Smith led the charge for the Hokies, registering 19 kills on a .382 hitting percentage and 10 digs, while setter Rhegan Mitchell dished out 33 assists and put down a kill.
Concord women picked second
The Concord University women’s soccer team has been tabbed to finish second in the Mountain East Conference South Division.
According to the preseason coaches’ poll that was released by the league office Thursday.
West Virginia Wesleyan had six first-place votes to finish first with 40 points while Concord had two first-place votes to finish second with 37 points.
Charleston (34 points) also earned two first-place tallies. Shepherd (21 points) and Glenville State (14 points) rounded out the south division. Notre Dame was picked to win the MEC North followed by Fairmont State, West Liberty, Wheeling Jesuit and Urbana.
Jackson tabbed for Manning List
Virginia Tech redshirt sophomore quarterback Josh Jackson has been named to the watch list for the Manning Award, the award’s committee announced Thursday.
Jackson, who recently participated as a counselor in the 2018 Manning Passing Academy, is coming off of a record-setting rookie campaign for the Hokies.
He set two Virginia Tech freshman passing marks with 2,991 yards and 20 touchdowns. Jackson’s passing yardage and 236 completions led all Power Five freshman quarterbacks in 2017.
The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning.
It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates’ bowl performances in its balloting. The list includes 30 of the top quarterbacks in the nation heading into the 2018 season.
The winner will again be selected by a voting panel, which includes national media and each of the Manning’s, after the bowls.
ReNew the New
The New River Valley Regional Commission is proud to support the 2018 ReNew the New Clean-up Event on Saturday. This is the third year the regional clean-up event has been held and will be hosted as coordinated clean-ups on the same day in Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, and Pulaski Counties, and the City of Radford. Registration info can be found at www.renewthenew.org.
For further information, please contact Michael Gottfredson (michaelg@nrvrc.org), 639-9313, ext. 205.
McClynn makes five saves
After a bit of a slow start, the Virginia Tech Women’s Soccer team had numerous chances in the second half and two overtimes but could not get a game winner and opened the 2018 season with a 0-0 tie against visiting San Diego on Friday night at Thompson Field.
The Hokies’ goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn came up with two big stops early in the contest and made a total of seven in the match to register her 13th career shutout at the school, which is already good for third in school history.
Tech’s Kristina Diana and Kelsey Irwin led the Hokies with three shots, including one in the 72nd minute for Diana off a cross from Emily Gray, but the shot was chipped wide left. Diana also nearly scored the game winner in just before the end of the first overtime on a corner kick, but that one curled wide right.
In the second overtime, the Hokies continued their pressure with the only five shots of the session which forced San Diego goalie Amber Michel to make two of her four saves on the night.
Concord men picked fifth
The Concord University men’s soccer team has been voted to finish fifth in the Mountain East Conference preseason coaches’ poll that was unveiled Thursday afternoon.
Charleston, who not only won the MEC Championship last season but also claimed the NCAA Division II National Championship, was picked to win the league with 49 points and seven first-place votes. Notre Dame earned the final first-place votes and 40 points.
West Virginia Wesleyan (36 points) edged Urbana (34 points) for third in the poll. Concord picked up 20 points and was just ahead of West Liberty (19 points) and Wheeling Jesuit who tied for sixth.
Shepherd (seven points) was voted eighth to complete the preseason rankings.
The Mountain Lions went 3-12-2 overall and 3-8-1 in the league last season.
