Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 9 No. 1 | August 2016

43 / 48

41
“This year is one of those years when I think
we’re deep enough where we can withstand
anything in terms of injuries,” Riley said.
“We have a chance to build a really consistent
team. That’s what we want to be.”
LIBERO/
DEFENSIVE SPECIALST
After the departure of Kenedy McGrath,
junior Rhana Mitchell and sophomores Haley
Price and Alex Toben are all vying for the
starting job at libero entering this season.
McGrath led the Hokies at 3.96 digs per set
last season, but Riley has confidence in all of
his personnel at the position.
“We’ve got some good young players and
good ball control players in there,” Riley said.
“Our emphasis has been on who meshes best
with a pretty senior-laden team. That’s what
we’ve been trying to figure out throughout the
preseason.”
SETTERS
Rhegan Mitchell stepped up as a redshirt
freshman last season and took command at
setter, where she started in 23 matches and
appeared in all 32. She led the Hokies with
7.51 assists per set and ranked fourth with
1.88 digs per frame. The Peachtree City,
Georgia native even chipped in a .307 hitting
percentage and nine double-doubles.
“Rhegan has done a great job and she’s
really progressing nicely,” Riley said. “Her
mind for the game is getting better and she’s
understanding more of what’s expected of her.
Her progression is going smoothly and it has
been exciting to watch.”
Two newcomers in UNC Asheville transfer
Mandy Powers and freshman Gaby Senties
join Mitchell. Powers, a Leesburg, Virginia
native, started in 12 matches last season for
the Bulldogs and ranked second on the team
with 407 assists. Senties was an all-city and
all-district performer at Laredo United High
School in Laredo, Texas and has been labeled
as a superb athlete and competitor by Riley.
“Mandy has some great on-court experience
coming in and Gabby is an incredible athlete
who brings ton of depth to what we’re doing,”
Riley said. “We’re looking for both to bring the
push and stability we need.”
MIDDLE BLOCKERS
Battle and juniors Cara Cunningham and
Stacey Christy are designated as middle
blockers, but Riley doesn’t see them that way.
Their versatility is viewed as a strength in
Tech’s schemes on both sides of the net.
“We have the kind of stability where
we can move our middles to the right side
interchangeably,” Riley said. “We’re looking
for them to bring a block presence to what
we’re trying to accomplish. I can move them
into either one of those spots and they can
play. They’re not just middles.”
Last season, Battle ranked in the top 10 in
the ACC with 1.17 blocks per set and a .330
hitting percentage. Cunningham, a second-
year transfer from Villanova, ranked second
on the team with 83 total blocks in her first
season in Blacksburg.
OUTSIDE/
RIGHTSIDE HITTERS
It can be argued that Tech’s deepest position
is at outside and right side hitter. Not only do
the Hokies bring back their top two hitters
from 2015 in McKinzie and Owens, but they
also return sophomore Jaila Tolbert. Tolbert
was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team last
season after posting 65 total blocks, with a .265
hitting percentage and 1.48 kills per set.
“We feel like we’re pretty steady at right
side and outside,” Riley said. “Lindsey and
Amanda have been here a long time, but we
have some good outsides behind them whom
we can move to the right side. We’re not re-
inventing the wheel right now, but we are
solidifying some of the spokes.”
The Hokies have plenty of spokes, and if
those get solidified, they could roll nicely this
fall. Hopefully, they roll straight to their first
NCAA Tournament berth since 2010.