Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 11 No. 1 | August 2018

inside.hokiesports.com Jimmy Robertson Dave Knachel Editor Photographer John Sours Contributors Designer Andrew Bauschelt—Hokie Club Jared Wilson— IMG *To advertise with Virginia Tech athletics or Inside Hokie Sports, contact Brandon Forbis at IMG Sports 540-961-7604 June 2018 Vol. 11, No. 1 Published by the Virginia Tech Athletics Department • Inside Hokie Sports (ISSN 8750-9148, periodical postage paid at Blacksburg, VA 24060 and additional mailing offices) covers Virginia Tech athletics and is published six times annually. The publisher is the Virginia Tech Athletics Department, 21 Beamer Way, Blacksburg, VA 24061. SUBSCRIPTION PRICES: $37.95 for one year (six issues) and $69.95 for two years. Mail all subscription inquiries, renewals, address changes, written inquiries and complaints to Inside Hokie Sports, Jamerson Athletic Center, Virginia Tech, 21 Beamer Way, Blacksburg, VA 24061 or call (540) 231-6726. Inside Hokie Sports assumes no responsibility for companies and persons who advertise in this publication. Reproduction of contents in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Publisher does not guarantee accuracy of information contained in any advertisement. ATTN POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Inside Hokie Sports, P.O. Box 11101, Blacksburg, VA, 24061-1101. Printed by Worth Higgins & Associates of Richmond, Virginia contents 2 Hokie Club News 7 News and Notes 9 From the Editor’s Desk 10 Behind the Mic– Jon Laaser Changes galore in coverage, as football season kicks off 12 Student-Athlete Development Softball player interns with Nike over summer 14 Football Spotlight –Ricky Walker Walker accepts challenges of being team leader 18 Top 5’s for 2018 A quick look at various parts of upcoming season, including top storylines and games 21 Football Position Previews A position-by-position look at the 2018 Virginia Tech football squad 36 Monogram Club 38 Men’s Soccer Preview The Hokies lost 10 seniors, but this is a young team with talent –and one with sights set on a third straight NCAA bid 40 Women’s Soccer Preview A veteran nucleus, including a top-notch goalkeeper, has Tech looking to move back into postseason play 42 Volleyball Preview Fueling the fire is the theme for Tech, as it starts Year No. 2 under Jill Wilson 44 Cross Country Preview New coach Eric Johannigmeier aiming to continue recent successes in Tech cross country and distance running 14 18 21 38 40 42 44