Francis posts career high in Hokies’ 3-2 heartbreaker to Florida State

BLACKSBURG – Elayna Duprey and Leandra Mangual Duran both recorded double-doubles, while Ava Francis launched a career-high 20 kills in Virginia Tech’s 3-2 setback (20-25, 25-20, 25-15, 23-25, 17-19) to Florida State Friday night inside Cassell Coliseum.

The loss dropped Tech’s record to 10-2 overall and 0-1 in ACC action. The Seminoles improved to 7-6, 1-0.

The Hokies were led by the double-doubles from Duprey, who had 14 kills and 14 digs, and Mangual Duran, who had 15 kills and 16 digs. In addition to Francis’ 20 kills, Hanna Borer dished out 66 assists. On the defensive end, Iliana Rodriguez chipped in 34 digs to go with four blocks from Cara Lewis.

Game Notes

» Elayna Duprey and Leandra Mangual Duran both notched double-doubles in the loss.

» Virginia Tech had four players in double figures in kills.

» Virginia Tech had five players in double figures in digs.

» Cara Lewis was efficient in attacking situations in the match, accumulating 15 kills while hitting .538.

» Olivia Angell had a team-high two aces in the loss.

» Virginia Tech never trailed on the way to winning the third set 25-15.

» Ava Francis had a match-high 20 kills for Virginia Tech.

» Virginia Tech got a match-high 34 digs from Iliana Rodriguez.

» Virginia Tech attackers were helped by a match-high 66 assists from Hanna Borer.

How It Happened

SET 1 | The Hokies found themselves in an early hole, losing the first set 25-20. Virginia Tech trailed by as many as six points as Florida State grabbed the advantage for good at 13-12 in a set that was knotted up eight times before the Seminoles took control.

SET 2 | Virginia Tech responded to pick up a 25-20 victory in set two, evening the match at one set apiece. The Hokies grabbed the set with the help of a strong showing on the attacking side. Virginia Tech put together a .405 attack percentage with 22 kills in the set win. The Hokies ended on a strong note, stretching their lead to its largest point in the set to finish out the stanza.

SET 3 | Virginia Tech won again in set three to make it a 2-1 match. The Hokies led from the first point on in the set to earn a 25-15 victory. Virginia Tech opened up as much as a 12 point lead at 24-12 before closing out the set.

SET 4 | Virginia Tech couldn’t keep the win streak alive, as the Seminoles forced a fifth set with a 25-23 fourth-set win. The Hokies rallied from a seven-point hole at 13-6, but it wasn’t enough as Florida State hung on to…