March 19, 2024

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CLASS OF 2027 VOTES FOR CLASS OFFICERS

Erin Bailey | Assistant News editor

Class officers are elected to carry on traditions and events for the next four years.

In late February, members of the class of 2027 voted to elect class officers. The newly elected class officers are expected to continue traditions, build a unified class and form a personal relationship with Virginia Tech.

Candidates had various reasons for running for the 2024 election. Freshman Lia Nhan, current vice president majoring in biochemistry, expressed that she ran for class office to become more involved in the community.

“Hearing about class office made me realize that I was not as involved in the community as I would have liked to be,” Nhan said. “I thought it would be fun and

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CORE VALUES

Impartiality means reporting, editing and delivering the news honestly, fairly, objectively and without opinion or bias.

Credibility is the greatest asset of any news medium, and impartiality is the greatest source of credibility.

To provide the most complete report, a news organization must not just cover the news, but uncover it. It must follow the story wherever it leads, regardless of any preconceived ideas on what might be most newsworthy.

The pursuit of truth is a noble goal of journalism. But the truth is not always apparent or known immediately. Journalists’ role is therefore not to determine what they believe at that time to be the truth and

a good way to be part of something that I can call my own, so I kind of ran on a whim.”

The hardest part for individuals interested in running, according to Nhan, was having to gather at least 100 signatures within a week to qualify for the election. Once signatures were gathered, the candidates went through an interview process before advancing to election day.

“It was hard to get people to care about the class office and even harder to ask people to sign for me,” Nhan said. “However, it gave me the opportunity to meet so many people and learn about different policies and traditions here at Virginia Tech.”

reveal only that to their readers, but rather to report as completely and impartially as possible all verifiable facts so that readers can, based on their own knowledge and experience, determine what they believe to be the truth.

When a news organization delivers both news and opinions, the impartiality and credibility of the news organization can be questioned. To minimize this as much as possible there needs to be a sharp and clear distinction between news and opinion, both to those providing and consuming the news.

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Letters, commentaries and editorial cartoons do not reflect the views of the Collegiate Times. Editorials are written by the Collegiate Times editorial board, which is composed of the opinions editors, editor in chief and managing editors.

The newly elected class officers are expected to hold their positions all four years, committing to the responsibilities that come with their title.

“It was definitely rewarding to find out I would be part of something so awesome,” Nhan said. “That being said, it also made everything more real, I knew that I would have to get serious about time management and balancing all of my new responsibilities.”

Officers are vital to upholding tradition and planning major events. Events like Spring Fest and Ring Dance will be planned by the officers, and social media will be the main outlet for information about events for the class of 2027.

“A lot of information will be posted on the VT Class of 2027 Instagram page (@ vt_classof27),” Nhan said.

The class officers consist of President Karl Rice, Vice President Lia Nhan, Secretary Lia Corning, Treasurer Lea Padden and Corps of Cadet Liaison

Gabriel Morales.

Nhan aspires to meet more individuals in her class and promote an ideal campus ensuring that all traditions are upheld.

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OPINIONS

SUSTAINABILITY EMBRACED IN VIRGINIA TECH’S CAMPUS DESIGN

Alexandria Lilly | opinions contributor

By prioritizing carbon neutrality and eco-friendly approaches to construction, VT promotes sustainability.

Climate change has been a long-established subject of discussion and contention, with ongoing debates regarding its causes and prospective impacts. Though there is no collective consensus on certain aspects of climate change, scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) decree that our planet is undergoing warming. This warming is correlated with the escalated release of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, which considerably influence the Earth’s climate and atmospheric conditions. Notably, in 1998, climate scientists, led by Michael Mann and his colleagues introduced the “hockey stick graph,” which depicts Earth’s temperature trends over the past 500–2000 years. This graph shows a major heating effect in the 20th century, which corresponds with a surge in carbon dioxide emissions. With this, global warming is of utmost consideration, where Earth’s temperatures will continue to increase if GHG emissions continue to increase. This has been met with challenges from skeptics who argue that the Earth’s climate is only undergoing a natural change. However, the graph’s significance lies not merely in numerical data but in its representation of the escalating GHG emissions into the atmosphere.

While there is no single “right” solution to mitigate climate change and global warming, it is important to take decisive action to reduce the rate of these changes. This would allow both our Earth and society to adapt to temperature shifts. In recent years, Virginia Tech has taken decisive action in reducing campus GHG emissions in part of its Climate Action Commitment (CAC) and its objectives to achieve a further sustainable campus design. To act and place importance on reducing campus GHG emissions is an incredibly positive climate-action initiative. Universities at large have substantial environmental footprints. Universities can readily mitigate their impact by choosing a sustainable campus design, where its buildings can benefit the

environment, rather than harm it.

Virginia Tech’s CAC plan is designed to “ensure the most stringent climate and sustainability standards are implemented as Virginia Tech grows and seeks to be a leader in environmental stewardship.” The CAC is made up of fifteen goals, all meant to take initiative in response to climate change. The plan shows Virginia Tech’s commitment to taking a leading role in environmental stewardship and climate action; this commitment is reflected in the design and operations of its Blacksburg campus. Although this article does not discuss the matter, the history and creation of the CAC is an integral part of Virginia Tech’s history.

Cameron Hadley, a senior at Virginia Tech majoring in environmental policy and planning, is a representative on the Climate Action, Sustainability, and Energy Committee.

“The Climate Action, Sustainability, and Energy Committee is a coalition of people all across the campus. To achieve these goals, everyone must work together,” Hadley said.

The Climate Action, Sustainability, and Energy Committee includes executive officers, faculty, staff, student representatives and community groups from different departments. Environmental stewardship is strong at Virginia Tech; with the collective efforts of these members and many others, there have been improvements made in the university’s physical infrastructure.

“We’re on a path to a more sustainable campus,” Hadley said as he discussed sustainability projects on the Virginia Tech campus.

At the forefront of these efforts is the ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality for the Blacksburg campus by 2030, a central objective of Virginia Tech’s CAC. According to 2022–2023 Sustainability Annual Report, the CAC defines carbon neutrality as “net-zero emissions of (CO(CH₄) and (N₂O) by Virginia Tech operations on the Blacksburg campus.” Virginia Tech’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions so drastically, as well as its other

commitments, promise this pursuit on paper. In practice, there are many notable projects in development to push Virginia Tech towards this goal.

Lauren Phan, a junior at Virginia Tech majoring in environmental policy and planning, is an intern at the Food Team at the Office of Sustainability.

“Alongside my team, each of the intern teams (energy, food, waste and water) are facilitating their own sustainability initiatives on campus. Recently, my team has been working on a database involving local and organic food sourcing for Dining Services,” Phan said.

This project is only one example of many implemented by the Office of Sustainability at Virginia Tech where sustainability is outwardly embraced.

Achieving carbon neutrality on the Blacksburg campus necessitates ongoing improvements in the university’s physical infrastructure, alongside fostering a sustainability-oriented culture that includes everyone. Because of this value, students are also encouraged to further their involvement with sustainability at Virginia Tech by developing their own projects. These are known as Green RFP Projects. With this, student groups inspire change on campus every day. Arguably, this is a very important factor to recognize regarding the improvement of sustainability of Virginia Tech’s campus design.

It is important to note that buildings can be utilized as powerful tools in promoting sustainability and reducing the environmental impacts of construction. The question is: to what extent is Virginia Tech leveraging this potential? As easily observable, there is much construction happening on Virginia Tech’s campus. In many ways, construction can have negative impacts on the environment, such as waste generation, energy consumption and the emission of GHGs through building materials and construction equipment. Addressing these GHG emissions in construction requires adopting sustainable practices. Because Virginia Tech is on a path

to reach carbon neutrality by 2030, there are certain sacrifices in achieving this goal with increased construction, like financial investments and changes in procurement practices. However, Virginia Tech seems to place efforts on construction while keeping environmental impacts in mind. As described in the 2022–2023 Sustainability Annual Report published by Virginia Tech, The Division of Campus Planning, Infrastructure, and Facilities updated its Design and Construction Standards Manual (DCSM) in 2022. This sought to “ensure that the design and construction of buildings at Virginia Tech comply with the Virginia Energy Conservation code.” The DCSM presents energy-efficient design components like efficient building shell design, windows and daylight harvesting, energy metering and efficient use of lighting and power. With this, energy consumption, GHG emissions and impact rates of given electricity scenarios are evaluated. All of these energy-efficient design components reduce energy consumption, which in turn will reduce GHG emissions. This factor is one procurement practice that holds Virginia Tech responsible for reaching its climate-action goals, while also neutralizing some negatives of construction.

Also, within the DCSM are considerations for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications of buildings. The LEED, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council is a rating system for the design and construction of buildings. It is meant to promote environmental responsibility. The higher the LEED certification, the more sustainable the building. According to Virginia Tech’s 2020–2021 Sustainability Annual Report, Virginia Tech has “35 (LEED)-Registered buildings totaling over 3.2 million gross square feet.” This report also states that all new buildings entering the design phase of construction that are greater than 5,000 gross square feet, or the renovation of such buildings “conform to LEED Silver standards or better.” This is very promising, where energy-efficient design

continued on page 5

components and LEED certifications assist Virginia Tech in its CAC goals and promote sustainability even with an increase in construction.

Virginia Tech balances the negative effects construction can have on the environment with its DCSM and attention to LEED standards and

certifications. The university aims to embrace sustainability in its design through its annual Sustainability Reports, green building initiatives, Virginia Tech’s Campus Master Plan and Virginia Tech’s CAC. Advancements in embracing sustainability on campus have come about because of the recognition of the collective call

for action. It is recognized that across campus, faculty, staff and students are working towards sustainability goals while continuing to inspire climate action and creating positive change, together. To live in a world dedicated to preserving our natural realm, we must recognize the impact buildings and infrastructures have on

LIFESTYLES

A TRIP TO PARADISE

There is a song that has been rolling around in my head for the better part of a decade.

Beyond the scope of music-centered publications, like Pitchfork, Rolling Stone and lyric-focused websites like Genius, the true meaning behind songs are often forgotten. Music is relatable because it is interpretative, not necessitating all the details behind its formation to be accessible for enjoyment and appreciation. In some instances, however, the history behind the words can make a world of difference in how they sound.

Folk music has a reputation for telling stories. Contemporarily, this is perhaps best illustrated in the United States by artists like Bob Dylan, John Prine, Woody Guthrie, the band Peter, Paul, Mary and more. The late Prine was a well-decorated folk singer-songwriter.

Over his time on the music scene and shortly after his death, Prine accumulated 13 Grammy nominations and four Grammy awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award. He was a 2019 inductee to the Songwriters Hall of

Fame, a six-time award winner and honoree by The Americana Music Association, a recipient of a PEN award and more. While appreciation of music is subjective and individual, perhaps it is the tangibility of his stories — not only emotionally but also geographically.

Some of Prine’s stories are so accessible that they take place within a day’s drive of Blacksburg. Featured on his self-titled debut album (1971) and later on his ninth album “German Afternoons” (1986), the song “Paradise” is a testament to why it’s important to look behind the music and into the lyrics.

As the crow flies, 360 miles dead west of our very own Drillfield is the site of “Paradise.” The song is one of Prine’s best, according to many renowned publications such as Rolling Stone, Paste, Esquire, the LA Times, Billboard and Chicago Tribune.

While the land on which the story takes place is still relatively there, the village for which the song was named and written no longer exists. A 1967 article from the Telegraph-Herald, a paper out of Dubuque, Iowa, detailed the dying days of Paradise, Kentucky.

the environment. University campuses specifically have this power; however, they choose to use it.

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Muhlenberg County?

“Some 800 persons had lived in the southern Kentucky spot long before the sand-like fallout from the plant’s towering smokestacks began making life intolerable,” the unattributed article said. “(December 30, 1967)’s the deadline the Tennessee Valley Authority has given the Smiths and two other families still living in the small Muhlenberg County community to move out.”

Now on site is a retired fossil fuels plant and an active natural gas plant, both of which are named Paradise. Both are owned by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), who provides power for seven states in the Southeast. The TVA was federally corporated by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933.

Prine’s song about the vanished village was first released in September 1971, less than four years later. The chorus rings:

“And Daddy won’t take me back to

Down by the Green River where Paradise lay Well, I’m sorry, my son, but you’re too late in asking

Mister Peabody’s coal train has hauled it away”

More accurately, Peabody Energy (then known as Peabody Coal Company) removed the land itself, and the TVA removed the town. Peabody was who originally surface mined the area. Today, the Wildlife Management Area that borders TVA Paradise shares the Peabody name.

The site is less than an eight-hour drive from Blacksburg. Paradise is an extreme example of the impacts of extractive industries on rural areas and communities. For examples a bit closer to home, check out the economic impacts of coal mining in Bluefield and the cultural impacts of the Mountain Valley Pipeline in the New River Valley and beyond.

Emelia Delaporte | lifestyles editor

Lifestyles editor Emelia Delaporte ties together geography, industry and history on a musical road trip.

PHOTO COURTESY OF EMELIA DELAPORTE

Signs at TVA Paradise

PHOTO COURTESY OF EMELIA DELAPORTE

Paradise Fossil Plant

NEW STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY LIFE PROGRAM OFFERS AFFORDABLE DAY TRIPS TO STUDENTS

Mollie Coogan | lifestyles contributor SECL provides chances for students to get off campus with new excursions.

Virginia Tech’s central location makes travel to many popular tourist attractions manageable over a single day or a weekend. So, why do many students forgo the opportunity to visit new places during the semester? Traveling outside of Blacksburg can be daunting. Gas prices, where to go, and who to go with can all serve as barriers to short-term travel. Student Engagement and Campus Life (SECL) has designed a program to help students explore Virginia and its neighboring states. SECL — an office within Virginia Tech Student Affairs — has a new excursion program dedicated to providing low-cost, enriching experiences for students.

The third excursion took place on Feb. 17, 2024. SECL chaperones traveled with over 40 students to Charlotte, North Carolina, for a production of the “Mean Girls” musical in the Belk Theater at Blumenthal Arts Center. Attendance was $25 per student, which included transportation, a ticket to the show and snacks. SECL works to make the tickets discounted for students so that cost is less of a barrier to registration.

“We did have a lot of interest,” said Trisha Durbin, assistant director for student experiences in SECL. “Any time that students are together, living a shared experience, they develop that bond. The overall goal is that they will meet someone new and develop a friendship.”

Durbin chaperoned the trip, in addition to planning it. The group traveled on one bus and many of the registered students did not know each other before the trip. She likened it to a study abroad experience.

To continue with the spring semester’s theme of “Mean Girls,” SECL will host GobblerNights on Friday, April 12, in Squires Student Center. Daniel Franzese, who portrayed the character Damian in the original “Mean Girls” movie, will be doing standup comedy for those attending.

“’Mean Girls’ is an iconic, classic American movie, especially for our generation,” Durbin said. “With the excursion, GobblerNights and the release of a new

‘Mean Girls’ musical film,” Durbin declared, “It’s almost like a ‘Mean Girls’ semester.”

“Mean Girls” is by no means the only theme SECL is interested in planning trips around. In collaboration with the Cranwell International Center, there will be another excursion in late March to visit Washington, D.C. Students will see the Capitol’s iconic cherry blossoms in bloom and explore other sights along the way.

If you have questions regarding future

excursion trips with Student Engagement and Campus Life, please contact campuslife@vt.edu. Their Instagram page, @vtcampuslife, also includes information about excursions and student-centered events on campus.

IMAGE COURTESY OF BLUMENTHAL BELK THEATRE

SPORTS VIRGINIA TECH FALLS TO FLORIDA STATE IN THEIR FIRST GAME OF THE ACC TOURNAMENT

Brennan Weiss | Sports staff writer

Sean Pedulla led the Hokies with 24 points.

Virginia Tech men’s basketball traveled to Washington, D.C. to face off against Florida State in the second round of the ACC Tournament on Wednesday, losing 86–76.

After winning three games in a row to finish the season, the Hokies (18–14) secured a first-round bye as the No. 8 seed in the ACC Tournament. Florida State, on the other hand, fell into the No. 9 seed spot after struggling in February and March, losing six of its last nine games. No matter, the Seminoles got back to their basics on Wednesday and defeated the Hokies in a physical, back-and-forth affair.

The Hokies needed four wins at Capital One Arena to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.They hoped to repeat their magical 2022 tournament performance, where they upset the top three seeds behind strong performances from Hunter Cattoor. This year, however, Cattoor did not have his offensive rhythm, and the Seminoles attacked him relentlessly on the other end of the court.

Seminoles forward Jamir Watkins succeeded in matching onto Virginia Tech’s smaller guards, posting a career high 34 points on 9-for-15 shooting from the floor.

“I don’t know if (Watkins) missed a foul shot,” said Virginia Tech head coach Mike Young. “I don’t know if we’ve had anybody clip us for 34 points this year. He was very good.”

Virginia Tech has other weapons than Cattoor, though, including junior guard Sean Pedulla. Pedulla was just named to the All-ACC’s Third Team and averaged 20.4 points in the last five games of the season. Historically, his ability to drive and pass out or draw fouls has worked well against Florida State’s defense, and today was no different.

The Hokies started the game just the way they wanted to; They broke down Florida State’s defense and made all their open looks.They had a 19–11 lead in the first six minutes, prompting Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton to call timeout.

“I thought we did a good job getting downhill,” Pedulla said. “Part of our game plan was just getting into the paint and playing off two feet.”

Florida State tends to play a very deep rotation, but Hamilton trusted his starting lineup to get right, only giving Watkins a brief rest before the second media timeout.

The Seminoles did get right, emphasizing their strength on offense and defense. Watkins turned a loose pass from Cattoor into a fastbreak layup. Watkins kept his foot on the gas, scoring another four baskets in the next few minutes, practically walking through defenders on his way to the rim.

“He wants to use his power and his length and athleticism to get over the top of you and score that,” Young said.

Pedulla was always there to hit back, spinning his way to his own fast break layup. He totaled 12 points on 5-for-7 shooting, before he went to the bench with his second foul. Both squads traded baskets for the last eight minutes of the half, with Florida State eking out extra possessions by forcing five turnovers in those minutes. Tied at 31, Watkins — a poor three-point shooter — makes his second three-pointer on two shots.

The Hokies punch back with a balanced assault of jumpers to complete their scorching hot 64% first-half shooting. Despite the fire, they entered halftime ahead, 37–36, unable to create any separation. Woes in ball security and interior defense let the Seminoles hang around.

Florida State came out of the locker room looking like their morning coffee had finally kicked in. They did not let up their effort on either end of the floor, outworking the Hokies on every secondchance or loose-ball opportunity to create a 14–5 run. Forward Cam Corhen’s layup three minutes into the half was a microcosm of this trend. The Seminoles grabbed three offensive rebounds on the possession before finally putting the ball in the basket.

In the first half, the Hokies were able to keep up by making the open shots they found, but the offense slowed down in the second half. Every missed threepointer earned another physical transition run against the Seminoles, who used their length and passing skill to capitalize on these plays. Florida State ended the game with 18 fast break points.

“They live off of getting out in transition,” Pedulla said. “It’s hard to do, but you’ve got to do it if you want to win.”

Despite coming down to earth, Virginia Tech stayed in the game with 18 points from Tyler Nickel and 15 from MJ Collins. They fought from eight down, before Pedulla was fouled on a three-point shot and made all three free throws to make it a one-point game. A minute later, Nickel found center Lynn Kidd open under the basket, who made the layup after being fouled with a chance to tie the game at the free throw line. Kidd missed the free throw, but Nickel made a huge three-point shot late in the shot-clock to tie the game at 57 with 7:30 to play.

Unfortunately for the Hokies, the Seminoles’ superior strength and stamina showed in the closing minutes of the game, where they forced seven turnovers. Just like fast breaks off of missed field goals, the Seminoles were effective in converting these opportunities, finishing the game with 25 points off of 13 Virginia Tech turnovers. A few of those contributed to a 9–0 Florida State run that gave them a ten-point lead with three minutes to play.

“See the number?” Young said.“These don’t lie… 13 is too many.”

It looked for a second as if the Hokies would be let back into the game when Florida State fouled Pedulla — who converted both free throws to cut the lead to five — and then turned the ball over on an inbounds pass, but Pedulla took and missed a difficult midrange jumper and then fouled out on the resulting Florida State rebound, putting the game out of reach for Virginia Tech for good.

The Hokies are now hopefuls for the National Invitation Tournament, the less-appreciated sibling of March Madness. When asked if he’d like to continue coaching this squad in the NIT, Young interrupted the question by saying, “Hell yeah, absolutely. To play in the postseason? Sign me up.”

For the coach in his fifth year at Virginia Tech, there is no question of whether the NIT is a worthy contest.

“I’m never going to be too big for my pants,” Young said.

The NIT has instituted a new policy this year that gives automatic bids to two teams that didn’t make the NCAA Tournament from each of six power conferences. Depending on how the rest of the ACC shakes out, Virginia Tech may claim one of those, and they are a strong candidate to get in even without an automatic bid.

The NIT will announce its teams and schedule late on Sunday, March 17.

WOMEN’S TENNIS DROPS FOURTH STRAIGHT TO NO. 5 VIRGINIA IN SEASON’S COMMONWEALTH CLASH

Dylan Tefft | sports staff writer

Virginia Tech women’s tennis was unable to find upsets against Virginia when they faced off in Blacksburg on Thursday afternoon, falling 6–1.

The Cavaliers have bested the Hokies in the rivals’ last 28 meetings.

Junior Semra Aksu (8–4, 4–1 ACC) picked up the lone point for the Hokies (6–6, 1–4 ACC) in a three-set victory against Natasha Subhash (16–7, 3–1 ACC) that required extra games. The Turkish-born star’s win ended 6–3, 3–6, 7–6 (8–6).

Aksu exited the match as the lone Hokies player with a winning record in both national and in-conference play. Her win in singles marks her fourth straight — a streak she’s kept alive since a 2–0 set loss at Marshall on Feb. 4.

No. 5 Virginia (13–2, 5–0 ACC) dropped just three total sets during the match, outlasting Tech even when it made valiant efforts to keep up with one of the nation’s highest-ranked teams.

Virginia currently holds four nationally ranked players, all of which came away with victories against Tech.

No. 53 Sara Ziodato (23–6, 3–1 ACC) won in the most lopsided bout of the match, 6–4, 6–0, over Tamara Barad Itzhaki (3–5, 0–5 ACC).

No. 76 Elaine Chervinsky (11–1, 4–0 ACC) had a similarly commanding victory, 6–2, 6–3, over Bulgarian-born Dariya Radulova (5–6, 2–3 ACC).

No. 115 Melodie Collard (21–7, 4–0 ACC) narrowly prevailed in a three-set match against Laima Frosch (4–5, 0–3 ACC).

Despite the loss, the Hokie provided numerous reasons for the coaching staff to put stock in the freshman’s future.

The highest–ranked Cavalier, No. 22 Hibah Shaikh (21–5, 4–0 ACC), triumphed over senior Katie Andreini (5–5, 1–3 ACC) in a match that was inches away from heading to a third set.

Andreini began the match energized, taking the first two points, and eventually the first game. The succeeding four games were defined by errors for Andreini, however, and Shaikh would take them all.

Game six where she only allowed one score

to Shaikh looked as though it might have been the momentum boost Andreini needed, but she dropped the next game, as well as the set, 6–2.

Shaikh proved why she currently sits at 22nd in Division I rankings during the first set, displaying power and precision that few players would be able to keep up with.

The second set would prove much more difficult for the Cavaliers’ star singles competitor.

Early in the second frame, Andreini responded to Shaikh’s victory in the first by taking two back-to-back. Many of these points were earned in games defined by rallies, contrasting Andreini’s struggles with finishing lengthy games during the first set.

Andreini cooled off in spurts, but remained competitive, eventually finding herself faced with a 5–4 second set score while up, 40–30. Shaikh came back to win, making it 5–5, and soon after 6–6.

Shaikh made good use of her late-game momentum, dominantly winning the two tiebreaker games, and the match.

In doubles play, Virginia decisively took the extra point from their in-state rivals, beating the Hokies in every match.

That is — in games that actually finished.

To the dismay of the attendees at the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center, a heated bout between the pairs of Ziodato and Annabelle Xu (5–4, 2–1 ACC) against Aksu and Erika Cheng (8–3, 3–1 ACC) was cut short at 5–5, due to the first two Cavalier doubles rendering the result of the third game moot.

No. 24 Subhash and Shaikh (15–3, 3–1 ACC) triumphed over Andreini and Radulova (6–3, 1–3 ACC), while Collard and Meggie Navarro (1–0, 1–0 ACC) did the same over Charlotte Cartledge and Özlem Uslu (7–2, 4–1 ACC).

Both doubles wins for Virginia concluded, 6–3.

Thursday’s loss marks the first time Virginia Tech has fallen to a .500 record or below this season.

It will look to hoist itself back above that mark on Sunday, March 17, as the Hokies travel to Lynchburg to take on No. 66 Liberty.

SECOND CHANCE SHOTS PROPEL MEN’S BASKETBALL TO A SENIOR DAY VICTORY

Ellen Muldowney | sports staff writer

Sean Pedulla scored 28 points in the winning effort.

Virginia Tech lacrosse was back in Thompson Field on Saturday afternoon for its fourth ACC faceoff against Duke. Although the game tossed back and forth between one-point advances, Duke’s quick offensive responses and aggressive defense defeated the Hokies 9–8. This was their third consecutive year they fell to the Blue Devils by one point.

In 2022, Tech lost on the road, 15–14, and in 2023, they fell short in triple overtime, 14–13. The first period was full of call-and-response offensive plays that set the pace for the rest of the game. Olivia Vergano quickly gained traction, scoring a goal in the three minutes of play but Duke was not shy to return the favor

shortly after.

Midfielder Maura O’Malley scored the final first quarter goal for the Hokies with an assist from attacker Grace New, who has only appeared on the field nine other times in her Hokies lacrosse career. However, Duke ultimately dominated the quarter, scoring two more goals to gain a 3–2 lead.

Tech showed great resilience in the second quarter, despite Duke’s early three-goal jump. Paige Tyson played a significant role in getting the Hokies out of their 6–2 deficit, scoring two back-to-back goals, which propelled them back into action.

With another goal from attacker Ella Rishko

and one more from Tyson, Tech was able to tie the game, 6–6. Duke got the last point of the half with a freepositionshot from midfielder Maddie McCorkle.

The second half of the game slowed down in terms of offensive plays, but became a defensive battle with a game–high five turnovers by Tech. Despite the loss of defensive prowess for the Hokies, they were able to hold the Blue Devils to an 11–8 advantage in second-half shots.

Attacker Caroline Little scored early-on in the third quarter but was swiftly shut down by Duke’s two goals to follow. This would be their only goal of the quarter.

Vergano scored the final point of the game midway through the fourth, which closed the scoring margin to one-point, but it was not enough to carry home a win. The match concluded, 9–8.

The Hokies will be back in Thompson Field on Wednesday, March 20, at 4p.m. to face Longwood. Airing on the ACC Network, Tech will aim to continue itsnine-game winning streak against the Lancers, which has lasted since 2007.

Semra Aksu claimed a point for Tech.