April 4, 2023

An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903

WOMEN’S WELLNESS DRIVE COLLECTS OVER 3,000 MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS

Bethany Hansel | Assistant News Editor

One in 10 university students deal with period poverty, according to a 2021 study.

PERIOD. at Virginia Tech, a university chapter of the national PERIOD. organization, held a wellness drive from March 1 to 27 to collect menstrual products that will be distributed amongst bathrooms on campus starting on April 3.

The drive, held in honor of Women’s History Month, has collected over 3,000 menstrual products, helping to serve students who menstruate and bring awareness to the issues surrounding period poverty both on campus and globally.

PERIOD. defines period poverty as “the limited or inadequate access to menstrual products or menstrual health education as a result of financial constraints or negative socio-cultural stigmas associated with

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menstruation.” In a 2021 study by the Boston Medical Center, it was estimated that one in 10 college students experience period poverty.

PERIOD. at Virginia Tech has long been working to address this issue and has held several drives in the past for the broader New River Valley Community. One of their ultimate goals, however, is to help tackle period poverty on campus.

“Our long-term goal is to get the school to provide products in the bathrooms, so we’re kind of working towards that,” said Emma Yadene, a junior political science and criminology student, who also serves as the president of PERIOD. at Virginia Tech. “It’s going to be a very difficult process, but we do have

a lot of events being planned so that we can eventually get to that goal.”

In the meantime, the organization’s provision of menstrual products to campus bathrooms this semester serves as an important first step towards this goal.

Yadene iterates how unacknowledged this issue is, despite its widespread nature.

“Globally, period poverty is a very big issue, but it’s kind of hard to know exact numbers because it’s not talked about a lot because of the taboo,” Yadene said. “In the New River Valley Community, even though we don’t have exact numbers, I would say that it’s a lot more than you would expect.”

Yadene thus encourages everyone to educate themselves on this important issue.

“I would say people need to look into what period poverty is and see that it’s a real issue that affects people,” Yadene said. “Hopefully

we can bring more awareness and get the school to help out.”

For those interested in furthering this cause now that the drive is over, they can donate through Venmo to @period-at-VT or attend the organization’s next general body meeting on April 13 from 6 to 7 p.m. in McBryde Hall Room 231 to learn more about how they can contribute to addressing this issue.

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OPINIONS

LIVE MUSIC CAN ENHANCE YOUR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE

CATHERINE CUNEO | OPINIONS CONTRIBUTOR

Blacksburg’s unique local music scene offers everyone a worthwhile experience.

As a college town, Blacksburg has always been known for its close-knit community and exciting atmosphere. When people think of the town, they usually think of Virginia Tech, football and the lively downtown area. Since Virginia Tech is known predominantly for its STEM majors, many people don’t associate it with the arts. While the majority of students are in STEMrelated programs, there is a large presence of the arts at the school and in the town. The local music scene has especially been growing in recent years – as the scene grows, the variety of music expands as well. Whether you’re into rock, funky pop or experimental music, going to see the many local bands in the community is a great way to discover new music, passions and friends.

Compared to hearing music through a speaker, live music tends to be much more interactive. When a band is right in front of you, it’s hard to tune it out as background noise. Instead, people gravitate to the music and the energy of everyone else in the space. It’s incredibly fulfilling to experience music in person with others rather than alone; seeing the band on stage and being surrounded by tons of people who are singing and dancing truly lights up the entire room. Experiencing such a fun environment is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Andrew Donaldson, a sophomore civil engineering major, attests to this with his own experience with live music.

“It’s just really fun. People just love going to see live music, you don’t get to hear live music a lot so it’s just a different atmosphere.” Donaldson said.

Donaldson plays rhythm guitar in the band

Rassa Frassa, one of the many local bands in the Blacksburg area. He goes on to talk more about how performing live has impacted him.

“It’s one of my favorite things to do, it makes me really happy just to share music with other people and see how it makes them happy,” Donaldson said.

The local music scene has inspired people who share the same passion for music to create their own sound. Experiencing live music with

others in the community is not just exciting, it has also been proven to decrease stress and to improve one’s overall well-being. As a student, assignments and multiple other responsibilities pile up, especially as the semester nears its end. Live music creates a perfect opportunity for students to take a break from school and recuperate.

Not only does music bring people together, it also allows many bands in Blacksburg to play for charity events to bring awareness to issues and organizations in the community. An example of this is Relay For Life, a major fundraiser for cancer research. This year on Friday, April 7, the Virginia Tech Relay For Life will be having Rassa Frassa perform during the event.

“We’ll be playing from 11:30 p.m. to 12:10 a.m.,” Donaldson said. “It’s right after one of their big memoriam ceremonies so it’ll be really cool.”

A live band playing at an event like Relay For Life not only entertains the people at the event, but also aids the cause of the event itself. The band draws more attention to the event resulting in higher attendance and more donations. Going to Relay For Life and seeing music live is a great way to get involved and to support both local bands and a good cause.

By attending and supporting local bands, you are not only supporting the music but the locations the performances are held at as well. Many shows occur downtown in places such as the Milk Parlor or XYZ Art Gallery. These venues not only provide a place for bands to share their music, but also a place where other forms of art and entertainment can be appreciated. For example, the XYZ Art Gallery hosts a variety of artwork done by students. Their art is thus showcased to a whole new group of people, exposing them to even more local talent. Exploring one

form of art can lead to the discovery of many.

Whether you are aware of it or not, music is a large part of our life. It’s something that brings people together despite their differences, and in Blacksburg the local music scene does just this. It introduces people to new sounds, new friends and new opportunities. College is all about discovering yourself by trying new things; checking out the local music in the area could open up doors that you never even imagined. Why not try something new and check out all of the musical talent that Blacksburg has to offer?

BRANDON SPENCE / COLLEGIATE TIMES

The Band CAMINO performs at the Virginia Tech welcome week concert, Aug. 21, 2021.

LIFESTYLES THE COMEDY CONGLOMERATE SHOWCASES A NIGHT FULL OF LAUGHS AT THE MILK PARLOR

angela nell-tascon | lifestyles writer

Read on for a closer look into The Comedy Conglomerate at Virginia Tech.

Located in downtown Blacksburg, the Milk Parlor hosts various events, including Virginia Tech’s Comedy Club shows, as part of The Comedy Conglomerate at VT. To all who attended the Comedy Club’s show this past Wednesday, March 29, it is certainly not news that the show evoked full-bellied laughs from the audience, and showcased comedians with a passion for entertaining. The versatile stand-up sets performed throughout the evening were thoroughly entertaining and had the audience members captivated throughout the show. The club incorporated elements of audience participation that made these performances all the more engaging.

“There are so many layers to performing. At the beginning, it was just trying to figure out how to hold a microphone, and now it’s thinking about the way I’m standing and how the audience is responding …” said Katherine Rogue, a member of the club. This was evident in the show, as many of the comedians called on or highlighted members of the audience, which made the night all the more interactive. It was a clever way to engage everyone in the room in jokes and dialogue.

Having everyone involved in the jokes made the night quite an individualized experience — there was something for each person to enjoy, from stories of dating mishaps to family conundrums. Laughing along with these comedic bits during the show made everyone feel more familiar with one another.

“I especially like the Milk Parlor because it’s more intimate than other areas … when you get a laugh it just feels like you’re hanging out with friends and having a good time,” said Aayush Patodiya, a sophomore studying civil engineering and member of the club.

It is apparent how much fun the comedians are having onstage, and they ensure audience members are not left out of the experience. Through complex layers of comedy and a wide variety of topical content, the people in the venue are drawn in with each performer.

“To be able to get back in rooms with people and laugh and just be happy — and to

actually be in the moment with other humans experiencing something that is fleeting, it’s just so fun,” Rogue said.

The performers in Virginia Tech’s Comedy Club are constantly working and traveling to put on these events for their audience members. The event on March 29 delivered

a lot of laughs and inspiration, so if you’re looking for a special way to spend the evening downtown with a group of friends or even get involved in comedy yourself, The Comedy Conglomerate at VT’s performances are well worth the experience. You can find them on Instagram @comcon.vt, on Facebook at The

The Milk Parlor in downtown Blacksburg, Sept. 25, 2019.

Comedy Conglomerate at VT and online through GobblerConnect.

A MUSICAL SISTERHOOD: SOULSTICE A CAPPELLA COMMEMORATES 25 YEARS

MICHAELA SCOTT | ASSISTANT LIFESTYLES EDITOR

The all female-group celebrated their anniversary with alumni and a performance in March.

On March 19, the all-female group Soulstice

A Cappella raised a toast to the 25th anniversary of its 1998 founding. Founder Jessica Green and the squad of 17 girls came together to perform a concert like never before, inviting alumni from past years and celebrating the last concert of the 2022–23 school year.

Soulstice President Harper Mugford, a senior double majoring in professional and technical writing and English, emphasized the unforgettable time she had, making this day the most special part of her last time singing with Soulstice.

“We invited all of the alumni and we started planning the concert about 11 months ago during last April,” Mugford said. “It was a very long process and I have to give credit to Sydney Johnson who was definitely the creative eye, and the visionary behind all of it because she knew she wanted to make the anniversary a really big deal — not only for us, but for the alumni.”

Mugford highlighted that Johnson worked for months collecting names, emails and contact information. In addition, she tracked down the founder of the organization and met over Zoom in order to start planning the anniversary.

The concert was especially memorable, Mugford said, because it was fully dedicated to honoring all that Soulstice has given to the current singers and past members. Additionally, being a senior, she recognizes the time she has had during the past four years with the group and the importance of performing a show to cherish the lives that Soulstice has touched.

Typically, Soulstice creates a setlist which includes three past or present songs. However, in honor of this performance the group did some digging and was able to get in contact with alumni in an effort to gather songs that former members had sung that had meant a lot to them.

“We chose what songs that would fit our style the best and which ones that would go well with the group,” Mugford said. “We ended up doing an opening alumni song, we had three other alumni songs during the concert, and then our closing was our official alumni song because we invited all of the past members on stage to sing with us.”

The senior also said one of her most treasured songs that was performed called “Bills, Bills, Bills” by Destiny’s Child.

“I sang that song freshman year and it was one of the first songs I learned, which was also one of our alumni songs that we brought back,” Mugford said. “It was really fun to see what things have changed within the song and then we also had our old soloist joining us on stage half way through the song. It was just really nice to see her sing with our new girls and other current members, and seeing the song really coming full circle.”

Mugford explained the distinctiveness of the weekend and how special it meant to her that she shared her last concert with members from years before. She said that the night before the concert, Soulstice had a toast with the alumni to welcome them all back to Blacksburg and get to know them more personally before the performance.

Mugford also added that performing at Moss Arts Center was a rare occasion because normally they hold concerts at either the Lyric Theatre or the Haymarket Theatre.

Another part of the concert that resonated with Mugford was the senior speech — she mentioned that a primary reason she wanted to become president was because of how much the older girls inspired her. She noted that being a senior this year has given her the same opportunity to be a leader for the younger girls.

“Since I am a senior this year, I was presented with a basket and got a brief speech from my friend, Megan (Buss),” Mugford said. “For years, I have watched those senior speeches being given and it was really nice to finally be the one up there and definitely crazy to think about. Megan shared how much I inspired her just how I wanted to, which was just such a special moment for me to share with her and everyone else.”

Mugford played a significant role throughout her time in Soulstice, explaining that she didn’t know what to expect auditioning as a freshman but wanted to have the same creative outlet she has had since she was eight years old when she first began singing. After her first semester in Soulstice, she became concert director and officially became president during her senior year.

Mugford highlighted the impact that Soulstice has had on her college career and encouraged others to join for the same reasons.

Additionally, Mugford described how significant the a cappella community is because of the variety of personalities and the ability for the group to make such a large school seem small.

“We make jokes, we have socials and hangouts and it has given me really unique friendships,” Mugford said. “It’s not like a sorority at all where everyone basically has a lot in common, besides the fact that we all love to sing. It’s special because I hangout with people that I probably wouldn’t have crossed paths with if I never joined.”

Mugford also mentioned the variety of the a cappella community here at Tech, mentioning

that there are two all-female groups, two all-male groups and two co-ed organizations. She stressed that With Soulstice being such a small group, there is so much room for leadership that can help with so much growth.

“When I was a little freshman I was terrified of everyone, but being in a small group that is such a supportive community has helped me so much to become who I am today and I’ll definitely maintain and continue growing on the skills that Soulstice has ingrained in me,” Mugford said. “I would definitely encourage people to audition for Soulstice to join a fun group of girls who love music.”

COURTESY OF EMILY DAGES

AN INSIDER LOOK AT TWO BANDS IN BLACKSBURG

aidan mason | lifestyles writer

Drummer Will Burgoyne highlights his experience in the bands Cherry Moon and Earth Daze.

Music is one of the few things that unite us as humans. Almost all of us have music that we listen to and enjoy on a daily basis. Some like rock, some like Broadway and some like rap — but no matter our tastes, music is what brings us all together.

What we don’t often see are the local indie bands — the ones that aren’t as wellknown as their more famous counterparts. A member among these indie bands is Will Burgoyne, a drummer for both punk/ psych/garage rock band Earth Daze and rock band Cherry Moon.

How did you join these bands?

“Around November 2021, I started jamming with a few friends from MVs (Marching Virginians) Drumline,” Burgoyne said on the formation of Earth Daze. He notes that these sessions led to the creation of the band, joined later by singer Ela Yirmibeşoğlu this year.

Cherry Moon was established before Burgoyne entered in the fall semester of 2022. “It just so happened that their drummer was going to be leaving the band very soon, so I filled in and became the new drummer,” Burgoyne said.

How often do you practice?

Every musician needs practices to maintain their performance level and hone their craft, much like an athlete does with their bodies.

“With Earth Daze, we practice about one to two times a week, and we play gigs about once every two to three weeks,” Burgoyne said. “Cherry Moon practices about two to three times a week, and we play gigs about once or twice every two weeks.”

Which venues do you play at? How did you find them?

Bands need audiences, and in many cases, that can be found at venues. This is especially true for indie bands, who don’t have the advertising and purchasing

power that artists backed by major corporations have.

“The Milk Parlor is certainly the best spot to perform in Blacksburg,” Burgoyne said. “Setting up gigs requires contacting them several weeks (or) months before a date, especially for weekend shows because it is such a popular place for bands to play and considering it’s the only place with an actual stage downtown.”

Another place that Burgoyne praised was the XYZ Art Gallery in downtown Blacksburg, although he noted that the spot was smaller than the Milk Parlor. He also included that other venues he’s played at are places such as apartments and houses.

“It’s a bit of a challenge to find new places to play and people who are willing to host shows often,” Burgoyne said. “In the past few months, it has been especially difficult to find places where you do not risk being shut down by the police, even when we let local authorities know about the event beforehand.”

As a band, do you make money?

“With Earth Daze, our money comes from cover at shows and usually goes right back into buying new equipment,” Burgoyne said.

As for Cherry Moon, they have a more established financial background. “Cherry Moon has been around a little bit longer and we’ve been able to make decent money off of cover as well as merchandise.”

What should people who want to form their own bands know?

A lot of people want to enter the music industry. There’s a reason that the scene is full of people with their Spotify, SoundCloud and demo tapes, desperate to break out into the scene. But how do you make it successful? How do you make a good band?

“Even if you find the most skilled musicians to play with, sometimes you still

won’t sound good until you know how to learn the ‘sound’ of your band,” Burgoyne said. He mentioned that practice and learning the language of music is extremely important for any successful band.

What are the hardest parts about being in a band that people may not know?

“One of the hardest things to do is to find time to sit down and write and record songs with a band,” Burgoyne said. “Practicing covers and repetition is one thing, but actually composing a song takes a great deal of continuous time and effort to produce something that you can perform and potentially release.”

How do you feel about how the media portrays bands? Is it accurate to your lived reality?

With movies such as “School of Rock” and “Whiplash,” bands are depicted in media with varying degrees of accuracy. What we don’t often hear about, however, is how accurate this is from a member of an actual band.

“I’m not really sure how I generally view media portrayals of bands, and I can’t really say that anything is accurate to experiences because every band works differently,” Burgoyne said. However, one particular piece of media that he praised was the documentary “The Beatles Get Back.” One aspect he appreciated was the footage showing the Beatles goofing off and playing around, stating that it felt like his experiences with Earth Daze.

“Playing drums for Earth Daze and Cherry Moon and being part of the rejuvenated music scene in Blacksburg has honestly been my favorite part about being a student at Virginia Tech,” Burgoyne said. “I thank my bandmates for this experience but we really owe it to all of the students who come to our shows and the people who make an effort to host shows. Seeing new faces in the

crowd smiling and dancing to our music brings me so much joy and inspires me to keep jamming and keep the music alive in Blacksburg!”

For more information on the bands, you can follow Earth Daze on Instagram (@earthdazeband) and you can follow Cherry Moon on Instagram (@cherrymoondudes) and visit their website (cherrymoonband.com).

SPORTS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ENDS HISTORIC SEASON WITH FINAL FOUR LOSS

Sam Mostow | Assistant Sports Editor

The Hokies ended their best-ever season in the national semifinals.

After three quarters, Virginia Tech looked triumphant in their very first Final Four. They led No. 3 LSU, 59–50, seemingly cruising to their first national championship game appearance in program history.

Then came the fourth quarter, when the Tigers (33–2) launched past the Hokies (31–5), winning 79–72 and outscoring their opponents in the quarter, 29–13.

The Hokies came into Friday night’s contest winners of 15 consecutive games, spanning across the regular season, ACC Tournament, and NCAA Tournament. Until the Final Four, Tech had not lost since Jan. 26.

“I’m extremely proud of this group, not only because of what they accomplished on the court, but how they conduct themselves on the court, how they conduct themselves in our community, and this is the best year of basketball that I’ve ever had in my life,” said Virginia Tech Head Coach Kenny Brooks.

For the first time in recent memory, Virginia Tech trailed after the first quarter against LSU. The Hokies shot 25% from the floor in the first period, including 11% from behind the three-point arc. Point guard Georgia Amoore, the Hokies’ best sharpshooter, missed her first four three-point attempts.

The turning point for the Hokies was more than midway through the second quarter, when they began a 16–0 run. Trailing by nine with 4:48 remaining in the first half, Tech scored 20 points into the first two minutes of the third quarter. During that span, the Tigers scored two.

During their 20–2 run, Hokies guard Kayana Traylor scored nine of their points, totaling 17 points, six rebounds and three steals.

“I think my teammates put me in really good positions to be successful,” Traylor said. “I was just waiting for my opportunity. We were struggling a little bit

shooting-wise, so we had to do different things, play good defense, get stops, get to the rim.”

During the shift, Brooks switched to a 2-3 zone, changing the defensive scheme. He implemented the unusual system because forward Taylor Soule picked up two early fouls, only playing eight minutes in the first half.

“I thought it threw them out of rhythm a little bit, caused them to be stagnant on their end,” Brooks said. “... So it was just a really good solution to some of our issues, some of our problems. And as a result, we were able to go on a run.”

With the Hokies leading by nine points entering the fourth quarter, the Tigers clawed back. Alexis Morris hit a threepointer, a layup and a free throw, which on top of an Angel Reese layup and a LaDazhia Williams jump shot, tied the game at 62.

LSU never looked back, scoring 16 more points than Virginia Tech in the final period, advancing to the national championship game.

The Hokies thrived in the first half when they beat their opponents on the glass. They grabbed 25 rebounds in the first half, 11 more than LSU. The Tigers, who entered the game ranked third nationally in rebounds per game, improved in the second half, notching 22, countered with Tech’s 13.

Hokies center Elizabeth Kitley led her team with 18 points, 12 rebounds, seven blocks and three assists. Traylor and Amoore each added 17 points, while guard Cayla King totaled 14 points and three steals, including four three-pointers.

Guard Alexis Morris led the Tigers with 27 points, playing all 40 minutes. Forward Angel Reese earned her 33rd doubledouble of the season with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Forward LaDazhia Williams added 16 points and three steals.

In the game, LSU scored 24 second chance points and 22 off turnovers, while

Virginia Tech scored 19 second chance points and 10 off turnovers.

“I think we did a really good job for the most part in the first two quarters of limiting them to one shot, and I think we gave up a lot of offensive rebounds when they were coming back in the fourth, and that definitely hurt us,” Kitley said.

Kitley, the Hokies’ all time points leader, went head-to-head with LSU forward Angel Reese, matching up two of the country’s top WNBA prospects. Reese scored 10 of her points in the fourth quarter.

“(Reese is) super athletic, really good at getting rebounds on you,” Kitley said. “… Coming out (of halftime), her not being in danger of foul trouble as much, I knew she was going to be really aggressive on that end, and she was. She gave them a lot of second-chance opportunities, and that definitely helped them come back.”

Friday marked what may have been the final game in a Virginia Tech uniform for eight seniors. Six of them, Kitley, Traylor, King, guard/forward Taylor Geiman, forward D’asia Gregg and guard Ashley Owusu have the option to retain eligibility for an additional year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Players who may declare for the WNBA Draft, which is on April 10, have 48 hours after their season concludes to make a decision.

As all players reflected on their season, some of whom may have worn a Hokies uniform for the final time, they only had positive takeaways. Even if they fell short of a national championship, ACC Championship and Seattle Regional 3 Championship trophies will rest in the Hahn-Hurst Basketball Practice Center, forever memorializing the 2022-23 season.

“This group of girls has been so fun to play with, and it’s the kind of relationship that I feel like is going to carry on for however many years, and we’ll always be able to look back on this season and

remember how much fun we had together,” Kitley said. “I’m sure we’re going to have a reunion in 50 years and be able to talk about it. So I’m looking forward to that.” Brooks emphasized how special his 2022-23 team was and how proud he was of their accomplishments.

“I want (the players) to look at the Final Four and appreciate all the hard work, the dedication, the sacrifices that this group put in,” Brooks said. “And I want them to understand this is a phenomenal group of young ladies, and what they have done for this program, for this university, they’re proud to be Hokies.”

LSU will play in the national championship game on Sunday against Iowa, its first ever title game appearance. As for Virginia Tech, they will begin their offseason and, soon enough, raise their first Final Four banner in Cassell Coliseum.

MEN’S TENNIS FALLS TO MICHIGAN STATE

Javier Mico-Crump | Sports Staff Writer

Virginia Tech loses 5–2 to the Spartans.

Virginia Tech men’s tennis (8–12, 2–6 ACC) was unable to get a win in their return to Blacksburg, falling 5–2 to the Michigan State Spartans (7–10, 0–3 Big Ten) on Saturday.

The Hokies got off to a good start in doubles, with Scott Sculley and Alberto Orso getting a 6–3 win on court two. Shortly after, Matt Harper and Frank Thompson won by the same score, giving the Hokies the doubles point and the lead going into singles.

Saturday’s matchup proved to be one of the quicker encounters of the season for the Hokies, with every singles match concluding after only two sets.

The Hokies suffered first with a 1–6, 4–6 defeat for Alex Ix followed by a 4–6, 2–4 loss for Scott Sculley. However, No. 49 Ryan

Fishback gave the Hokies a spark of hope as he managed a 6–2, 6–3 win over No. 51 Ozan Baris. This point tied the clash at 2–2 with three matches remaining.

Unfortunately, the Hokies couldn’t keep the momentum going as the match neared its end. Losses for Alvaro Saez-Royuela Ariza and Frank Thompson clinched victory for the Spartans, and eventually Hugo Maia fell as well after taking the first set to a tiebreak.

The Hokies return to ACC play next Friday, where they will take on the No. 23 N.C. State Wolfpack (12–6, 6–1 ACC) in Raleigh, North Carolina.

TECH WINS ITS FIRST ACC SERIES OF THE YEAR IN THE COMMONWEALTH CLASH

ethan owens | Sports Staff Writer

The Hokies won their second consecutive series against Virginia.

The Virginia Tech baseball team (17–10, 4–8 ACC) defeated No. 5 Virginia on Sunday (24–4, 8–4 ACC), 12–7, in front of a packed Atlantic Union Bank Park. This win won the Hokies their first ACC series of the

year after failing to win their first three.

Jack Hurley was the hero for the Hokies — he went three for five on the day, with two home runs and three RBI. His first home run came in the sixth inning when the

Hokies were down 6–5. His two-run shot put the Hokies up a run and sent the home crowd into a frenzy, and Tech led for the remainder of the game. Hurley’s second home run came in the bottom of the eighth inning, which extended the Hokies’ lead to 11–7. This marked Hurley’s fifth and sixth home runs in the last seven games, as well as his ninth and tenth of the year. He is the first Hokie to reach the double-digit mark this season.

Hurley was not the only Hokie who homered on Sunday; Chris Cannizzaro and Brody Donay also both sent one over the wall at English Field. Cannizzaro’s homer in the seventh was a three-run moonshot that landed 417 feet from home plate, extending their lead to four. Donay’s home run was the cherry on top of the Hokies’ offensive explosion against their biggest rival, a solo shot in the bottom of the eighth inning that scored the Hokies’ 12th run of the game.

Carson DeMartini was also a notable bat for Tech. He also went three for five on the day with three RBI. DeMartini’s three-RBI

triple in the first inning was key to getting back into the game after Tech went down 3–0 in the top of the first.

Tech’s bullpen, who have struggled with closing games this season, shut down UVa in Sunday’s rubber match. The pen combined for six and two third innings and only gave up two runs. Kiernan Higgins got the win, which puts his season record to 2–1, after pitching two and two third innings and only giving up one run.

This series win over UVa marks the Hokies’ first back-to-back series wins against the Hoos since they won the series in 1999 and 2000.

Tech will be back in action on April 7 when they travel to Duke for the first game of a three-game series.

MADDY DJURIC / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Jordan Chrysostom returns a serve during a doubles match.

DEREK MEMMESHEIMER / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Virginia Tech graduate student Chris Cannizzaro (24) swings for the ball, April 2, 2023.