March 14, 2023

NEWS VIRGINIA TECH NAMES TWO NEW DEANS

Jane Park | News Editor

Deans for Pamplin and the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design have been selected.

Tsai Lu Liu, former head of the Department of Graphic Design and Industrial Design at North Carolina State University, has been appointed as the new dean of the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design at Virginia Tech, according to VTx. The university has also named Saonee Sarker, a professor in the Department of Informatics in the School of Economics and Management at Lund University since 2021, as the new dean of Pamplin College of Business.

Both deans will begin on July 1, with Liu replacing Interim Dean Rosemary Blieszner and Sarker replacing Interim Dean Roberta Russell.

“I am very humbled and honored to serve as the dean of the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design at Virginia Tech,” Liu said in an interview with VTx. “The academic

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strengths of AAD, the commitment to excellence, and tradition of service: these attributes place the college as an integral leader in the pursuit of inquiry, discovery, and understanding. I am excited to be part of this extraordinary community as we explore scholarship, expression, and inspiration, and create experiences that will positively enhance and impact our world.”

Liu will also serve as a professor of industrial design within the same department.

Liu’s scholarship “focuses on analysis of user experience and applications of design thinking to industrial design processes, product development and manufacturing, and pedagogy.”

While at NC State, Liu led “Design it Forward,” a partnership between the university and the International Business

Machines Corporation assisting nonprofit organizations with their clientele.

Prior to joining Lund University, Sarker held various positions at the University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce from 2013 to 2021. Sarker was also at Washington State University for 11 years.

“I am honored to join the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech as its next dean,” Sarker said in an interview with VTx. “The college is experiencing tremendous positive momentum, and I look forward to partnering with new colleagues, alumni, and industry partners to advance a world-class business education ecosystem with far-reaching societal impact.”

Sarker is also involved in research, as she has roles with the MIS Quarterly Journal and the Journal of the Association for Information Systems Journal. Sarker’s research interests include smart

infrastructure and sustainability, health care information technology and technostress and technology-enabled collaboration.

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JOIN OUR BRACKET TEAM!

It’s that time of the year again — a time that’s extra special for students, faculty and locals that are avid fans of basketball. Everywhere you turn, people are talking about brackets, buzzer beaters and their favorite teams. March Madness has arrived!

As most of you know, it’s the month when 68 teams from the men’s and women’s divisions each participate in a single-elimination tournament, fighting for the NCAA Division I national championship, to conclude their 2022-23 basketball seasons.

Whether you’re an expert bracketologist and avid college basketball fan or someone who loves March Madness for the viewing parties, chips and dip and college mascots, our Collegiate Times bracket challenge welcomes all who are ready for a fun, healthy competition.

Join our CTMadness23 bracket team for the men’s tournament through the ESPN Tournament Challenge app or website to see how far your lineup goes.

Make your bracket starting at 6 p.m. on Selection Sunday, March 12, and before the initial First Four round on March 15.

There will be a PRIZE for whoever gains the most points by the time the men’s championship is claimed.

Follow along and use our hashtag #CTMadness on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram throughout the tournament so we can keep up with the competition together.

We will announce our winner’s ESPN Men’s Tournament Challenge username on all three social media platforms, so follow us @CollegiateTimes to receive all bracket announcements!

The CT will be posting updates on both the men’s and women’s March Madness tournaments — so stay tuned.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL’S IMPRESSIVE SEASON IS FAR FROM OVER

Amber Williams | Sports Editor

Sports editor Amber Williams recounts the story of an all-time great season.

It has been the best season in history for the Virginia Tech women’s basketball program, but it’s not over. The Hokies will compete in the NCAA tournament, which is set to start on March 17, earning a No. 1 seed for the first time in program history.

No matter what happens during March Madness, this team has already cemented themselves in Virginia Tech history.

On March 5, the Hokies won their first ever women’s basketball ACC tournament championship. They defeated Louisville 75–67 in Greensboro, North Carolina to hoist the trophy. The No. 3 seeded Hokies took down Miami in the quarterfinals and No. 13 Duke in the semifinals in their path to the championship. Prior to this season, the farthest Tech had gone was to the semifinals.

To cap it off, Georgia Amoore earned tournament MVP by setting a tournament record of 14 3-pointers, totaling 65 points.

The road to the ACC Tournament was more than successful for the Hokies, as they finished the season with only four losses,

going 27–4 overall including the ACC tournament. All four losses were to ACC opponents: No. 5 Notre Dame; Clemson, Miami; and No. 16 Duke.

In the conference, the Hokies scooped up 14 victories with five wins over ranked opponents. With their streak of wins over No. 22 NC state, No. 19 Florida State and No. 9 Duke, Tech earned three consecutive top-25 wins for the first time in program history. The Hokies also won eight straight ACC matchups for a program record.

Tech was strong in Cassell, only ever conceding one victory at home, which was to No. 5 Notre Dame.

The Hokies started the season strong, going on a 10-game win streak, downing adversaries such as Nebraska and Tennessee. Tech is inching towards the end of their season in the same fashion; it will enter the NCAA Tournament on an 11-game win streak.

The Hokies made history in the rankings, reaching a high at No. 6 in the AP Top 25

Poll during the regular season for the best ever for the program. Tech enters the tournament at a new high, currently ranked No. 4 in the AP Top 25 Poll.

Although the incredible accomplishments of this squad is due to the entirety of the team, Elizabeth Kitley stood out all season. The senior was named ACC Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Kitley is the 10th woman in conference history to earn the accolade in back-to-back seasons.

The Summerfield, North Carolina native also won ACC Player of the Week four times, the most of any athlete in the conference.

The honors didn’t stop there, as Kitley was also named to the First Team All-ACC for the third time in her career, a program record. Kitley is the 20th woman in ACC history to receive this recognition three times. The center was also named to the All-Defensive Team for the second season in a row for leading the conference in rebounding (10.5 per game, 316 total),

defensive rebounds (233) and blocks per game (2.3).

The ACC Tournament MVP Amoore also earned First Team honors with a total of 1083 points for the Hokies this season. Amoore was strong for the Hokies this season. The junior earned ACC Player of the Week Feb. 13, led the ACC in 3-point shooting with a total of 80 for the regular season and popped her 1,000 career points bubble.

Taylor Soule, who transferred to Tech prior to the start of the season, was also instrumental in the Hokies’ achievements. The graduate student earned the Second Team All-ACC honors for the fourth time in her career.

Kenny Brooks and his team have created a storybook season that has earned themselves another page with Tech sitting in a position to host NCAA Tournament games in Cassell. Tech hasn’t had that opportunity since 2004.

As a No. 1 seed, the Hokies will host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament at Cassell Coliseum, playing No. 16 Chattanooga on Friday, March 17. If they advance, the team will go up against either No. 8 USC or No. 9 South Dakota State on Sunday, March 19.

HAMAD ALHENDI / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Virginia Tech Hokies guard Georgia Amoore (5) rushing between the defensive to create gaps to score from, Jan. 1, 2023.

BUILD UP TO NCAA WOMEN’S MARCH MADNESS: CAN THE HOKIES MAINTAIN THEIR DOMINANCE AND MAKE HISTORY?

Luke Evans | Sports Staff writer

How far can Kenny Brooks and company go in March?

The Virginia Tech women’s basketball team is going into this year’s rendition of March Madness with achievements that no other Hokies women’s basketball team has ever obtained.

The Hokies won the program’s first-ever ACC championship last Sunday in Greensboro, North Carolina, earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. There, they defeated the likes of six-seed Miami, second-seed Duke and fourth-seed Louisville in the final. Georgia Amoore was named the ACC Tournament MVP after she made the most 3-pointers in ACC tournament history. Overall, it was one of those tournament runs where everything seemingly went to plan for the Hokies. However, their successful form didn’t just begin recently, as they have been consistent all year. They were 14–4 in ACC play, with two of those losses coming from nationally-ranked opponents. They have achieved a record of 27–4, the best in program history. At the end of the regular season, they were ranked number No. 4 in the AP poll. This March, the team will be looking to make more history.

Historical success in March Madness

The Hokies women’s basketball team has been to the NCAA Tournament just 12 times in program history. In 12 appearances, they have only made it past the second round once, where they competed in the Sweet 16 in 1999. They would end up losing to the No. 1 seed, Tennessee, 68–52. In recent history, Virginia Tech has not fared too well. In last year’s tournament, they lost to the No. 12 seed, Florida Gulf Coast, 84–81. As the number five seed last season, that’s not the way you want to go out. The previous year, they won their first matchup against No. 10 seed, Marquette, 70–63. They then had to face the Goliath of a program that was No. 2 Baylor, who won in dismantling fashion, 90–48.

Kenny Brooks

This will be Tech’s third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament, where they will be led by head coach Kenny Brooks. In Brooks’ seven years being the Hokies head coach, he has never had a losing season.

When Brooks took the job in Blacksburg in the 2016–17 season, there was a lot of work to do. During a press conference after the ACC Championship, Brooks was asked about how past players helped get the Hokies to the point of being ACC champs, and what being ACC champions meant to him. Brooks said, “To build it, it took a lot. We had to build it from the ground up. We had to change the culture.”

Building this program to where it is now took many years, and saw many talented players come through. Brooks credited many former Hokies, as he said, “I’ve often said that kids like Vanessa Panousis who’s an Australian, Sammy Hill, they taught me what it was to be a Hokie.”

Brooks gets the praise of current players as well. In an interview with ESPN, Elizabeth Kitley said, “I just can’t say enough about Coach Brooks and what he’s done for this program and for me personally ...”

Georgia Amoore also had kind words about Brooks, as she stated in an ESPN interview, “He’s my coach of the year, he always will be. He’s done so much for us, so much for the team.”

Elizabeth Kitley

By now, Elizabeth Kitley has become a household name in Blacksburg. She has the kind of impact that only Hokie legends are able to achieve.

Kitley was just named ACC Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. She averaged over 18 points per game, 10 rebounds per game and two blocks per game. Her impact on the team and the overall success of the season can’t be overstated.

Kitley was also named a 2023 Naismith Women’s College Player of Year

Semifinalist, and is one of the premier players in the country. The Hokies will need her dominant play to continue if they want to try and rewrite history.

Georgia Amoore

The two-punch combo that is Elizabeth Kitley and Georgia Amoore is one that any team facing the Hokies need to plan for. Amoore in particular is a serious threat past the three-point line.

With the addition of holding the record for most three-pointers in ACC Tournament history, Amoore’s accomplishments as a Hokie are incredible, to say the least. She was named to the 2023 ACC First-Team, and the 2023 ACC All-Tournament First-Team.

Amoore averaged over 15 points per game, five assists per game and nearly three rebounds per game. The biggest part of her game is her ability to shoot the three-ball. She had the most made threes for the Hokies this season, leading her to shoot nearly 35% from beyond the arc.

How can the Hokies can find success?

The Hokies head into this year’s March Madness on a tear, as they have an 11 game winning-streak ongoing.

To continue this remarkable streak and to stay alive in the tournament, they need to continue to dominate in the same areas they have all season. History can easily tell us that the high seeds can always fall to low seeds, or that Goliath really isn’t that tough to beat.

The Hokies are a premier threat from three, as they attempt around 22 threes per game. As a team, they are shooting nearly 35% from beyond the arc, with six of the Hokies shooting 30% or higher.

Another huge factor to their offense is their ability to get to the free-throw line. On average, they attempt 12.8 free throws per game, which is 3.1 more than their opponents (9.7 attempts per game).

There is one battle that the Hokies have

won all year, and will need to continue winning in order to make it far this March — the rebounding battle. The Hokies average 37.5 rebounds per game, which is nearly seven more than opponents (30.7).

The Hokies will need to be consistent and prosperous in these three aspects in order to sustain a long run this March. The field is full of many talented teams and players, most notably the No. 1 team in the country, South Carolina. They haven’t lost a game all season, and don’t look like they plan on losing now.

Who and where will the Hokies play?

On March 12, the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee announced the Hokies earned a No. 1 seed and will play No. 16 Chattanooga on Friday, March 17. If they advance, they will go head to head with either No. 8 USC or No. 9 South Dakota State on Sunday, March 19.

Friday will be the first time Cassell Coliseum hosts the Hokies in the NCAA Tournament since 2004.

VIRGINIA TECH MEN’S BASKETBALL SEASON REVIEW

colby talley | sports editor

Breaking down a season of highs and lows.

paint improved steadily as he went from giving up easy backdoor cuts to eventually leading the team in blocks with 1.2 per game.

While Basile is a fifth-year senior, he, much like Cattoor, has an extra season of eligibility. However, unlike Cattoor, Basile did not participate in senior day, so the potential for him to return is relatively high.

What got worse

If any one thing was responsible for the Hokies’ decline this season, it would have to be team defense.

Compared to last season when the team gave up just 63 points a game, this team gave up nearly 70 points a game. While last year’s team only allowed teams to shoot 43% from the field and 32.3% from the three-point line, this year’s team let opponents shoot 44.6% from the field and let them make 34.1% of their 3-pointers.

Virginia Tech men’s basketball had lofty expectations this season.

Those expectations spawned from the program’s previous season, which saw the Hokies fall to 2–7 in conference play before winning nine of their last 11 conference games and going on a historic run through the ACC tournament.

That run culminated in an upset over then-No. 2 Duke in the championship game. This year’s ACC tournament run for the Hokies ended with a 97–77 beatdown at the hands of NC State in the second round.

After starting the season 11–1, the Hokies went on a seven-game losing streak, putting themselves in a similar situation to last year’s team. However, the late season comeback that excited fans last season never came as the Hokies struggled to string wins together up until the conference tournament.

It would be so easy to look at this team and focus on the bad, but there were some good things that happened, things that will help the program as early as next season. Overall, the situation with this team was more nuanced than simply being a slightly below average squad.

What stayed the same

Out of the players who returned from last year’s team, forward Justyn Mutts and guard Hunter Cattoor both performed as well as fans expected.

Mutts remained his usual self in his third and final season with the Hokies: a consistent double-double threat who did a great job setting up his teammates to score. While averaging 13.2 PPG and 7.4 RPG, Mutts also led the team with 4.7 APG.

Cattoor, despite missing significant time with a fractured arm sustained in a loss to Boston College, remained the team’s reliable spot-up shooter when he was on the court. Cattoor averaged 10.8 PPG while shooting 42.4% from three-point range, making this his fourth consecutive season with the Hokies, where he made over 40% of his three-point attempts.

While Mutts has used his final season of eligibility, Cattoor could potentially return due to the extra season given to him by the NCAA due to the pandemic. However, Cattoor’s participation in the Hokies’ senior day festivities

during their final regular season game throws the possibility of him returning into doubt.

What got better

The main area of improvement for the Hokies was at the point guard position with Sean Pedulla taking over for last year’s starter, Storm Murphy.

Pedulla showed resounding improvement from last season, averaging 15.2 PPG and solidifying himself as a primary scoring option. The most notable improvement in Pedulla’s performance has been his ability to score off the dribble, a skill most assuredly developed after spending a season playing behind Murphy.

Pedulla is only a sophomore, so he has the potential to be a key piece of the Hokies’ offense for the next two seasons.

Another player who showed improvement as the season went on was Wright State transfer forward Grant Basile.

While Basile remained consistently impressive on offense, averaging a team-high 16.4 points while shooting 39.3% from threepoint range, most of his improvements came on the defensive end. Basile’s defense in the

This may not seem like a sharp decline, but having these numbers drop this much over the course of a full season is cause for concern on the defensive end.

In particular, the Hokies’ inability to guard the three-point line at crucial points in games cost them dearly many times, specifically in games against Clemson, Boston College and Miami. The Hokies were close to winning all of those games, but their perimeter defense kept them from victory.

While the Hokies might have taken a step forward this past year with their performance on the offensive end, their poor defense forced them to take two steps back.

HAMAD ALHENDI / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Virginia Tech Hokies guard MJ Collins (2) passing the ball to Virginia Tech Hokies forward Justyn Mutts (25), Feb. 8, 2023.

THE ULTIMATE MARCH MADNESS ROAD TRIP

laurel molloy & emelia delaporte | lifestyles staff writer & lifestyles assistant editor

Traveling for March Madness doesn’t have to be just for the athletes.

March Madness is here, and many fans are ready to hit the road in support of their favorite teams. March Madness kicks off on March 14, 2023. Stadiums across the region fill with echoing cheers, streaking sweat, tense expectancy and battling sides. And what better way to join in and support your team than a road trip?

Selection Sunday, the day seeds and bracket schedules are released, was March 12 (two days ago at the time of publication) but we drew up a road trip itinerary covering the route that the Hokie men’s basketball team would have followed if they had stayed in the tournament all the way through last year. The women’s basketball team was announced to be the No. 1 seed for the first time in program history on March 12, an incredibly exciting feat. Hopefully, you’ll be making trip plans of your own soon and supporting both the Hokies and your favorite teams.

March Madness is a tradition going back 84 years when it was first created in 1939. In this competition, 68 NCAA division I men’s basketball teams will face off against each other in a single elimination tournament and fight for the throne of best team. This contest is highly anticipated and exciting for sports fans and Hokie fans alike.

Last year, people followed the games from stadium to stadium and excitement filled game to excitement filled game. Our road trip itinerary starts in our very own Blacksburg, Virginia and covers almost four thousand miles spanning several states. This road trip would bring you from Virginia Tech; to New Orleans, Louisiana; to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; to Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and finally, back home to Blacksburg, Virginia and the comfort of your own bed.

Blacksburg to Milwaukee

Tech’s first (and only) March Madness game in 2022 was played in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. From Blacksburg, this is more than 700 miles on the road. If you have the patience for long drives, though, this means ample opportunity to stop and see new (or beloved) places. The most popular stop between the two cities is Chicago, Illinois.

“Somewhere that I would definitely

recommend going is Wicker Park,” said Andrew Germain, a sophomore architecture major from a Chicago suburb. “Wicker Park is an area that’s full of tons of different stores and lots of different parks that you can walk around, and it’s not too crowded or anything like that so you can just chill out.”

For those who have never been to Chicago, seeing the most popular sights can be a travel bucket list item.

“If you want to be a little more touristy, I would definitely go to Millennium Park and Grant Park,” Germain said. “I would show you guys the Bean and (Jay Pritzker Pavilion) and then Grant Park, and all the beautiful architecture that’s all surrounding Millennium Park and the Chicago River.”

Besides shopping and the visual arts, Chicago offers plenty of opportunities for a road tripper with any end destination in mind.

Milwaukee to Philadelphia

If Tech had stayed in the tournament, after a second game in Milwaukee, the team would have headed east 850 miles to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

After passing through Chicago again to see anything you missed the first time, the route winds through Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Two games would have been played in Philadelphia, so there’s plenty of time to see and do everything that the City of Brotherly Love has to offer.

“I would recommend definitely going to Boathouse Row, it’s really cool. It’s right on the waterfront on the Schuylkill (River),” said Kathryn Ouimet, a sophomore biological sciences major from the Philadelphia area. “It has great little walking trails and it’s really beautiful. At the end of the path, it leads up to the Philadelphia (Museum of Art), which is really pretty, and the city’s right there.”

If there’s one thing that Philadelphia is known for outside of its history, it’s food.

“You’ve really got to go to the holein-the-wall places, I find that’s the best food. John’s Pork Roast is a shack near the river, and it has the best cheesesteaks ever,” Ouimet said. “Another really good restaurant a lot of people go to enjoy is Max

Brenner’s — it’s chocolate themed, it’s so good, it’s so yummy. Another cool place is the Italian Market on 9th Street. It’s an open-air market and it’s really fun to walk around.”

Knowing this, Philadelphia’s great dining sounds like the perfect place to stock up for the long haul to New Orleans.

Philadelphia to New Orleans

The road from Philadelphia to New Orleans is a long one — about 1,222 miles — so we decided to take the scenic route. A familiar stop for many Hokies would be northern and central Virginia.

Virginia features many great hikes to stretch your legs. A road tripper could visit Humpback Rocks, an outcropping of rock looking out over the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. It rests about 30 minutes from Charlottesville, Virginia and is a 1-mile hike — although it can be made longer. It’s decently steep at points, but it’s a great hike for catching the sunrise (or sunset) as it dips over the iconic mountains that mark Virginia.

Another stop frequented by Hokie vacationers in pursuit of sun and sand is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

“There’s so many different kinds of food places, you can get anything — you can get seafood, there’s ethnic foods like Greek, Israeli, Indian, you get anything,” said Alex Legge, a sophomore communications major from Myrtle Beach. “There’s the beach and the bars that are here, too, if they are 21.”

While most college students know Myrtle Beach for being a nationally revered spring break beach destination, there’s more to the city than beaches and bars.

“There’s so much to do like (the) Sky Wheel, too, downtown Myrtle Beach is so much fun to go and explore,” Legge said. “There’s so many little hidden gems, especially like old Myrtle Beach — a lot of history, that’s just interesting, but it’s also a lot of fun.”

New Orleans to Blacksburg

Heading back home to Blacksburg is always a welcome trip and comes in at 833 miles. Hokie central is the home of harsh

winds and amazing views. Here we have food and fun alike. You can destress at the Blue Ridge Axe Throwing arcade or soak in the sun on Virginia Tech’s iconic Drillfield.

In Blacksburg itself, the food is also great. Spicity is considered an underrated Chinese restaurant and then there are classics like the Cellar, El Rodeo and Cabo Fish Taco for whatever kind of meal hits your fancy. El Rodeo is a Mexican restaurant with hearty but not particularly cheap food right off of North Main Street. Cabo Fish Taco is also another Mexican restaurant with a bright and striking mood and flavor to its food.

2023 March Madness

According to the NCAA, the first round, on March 14-15, is in Dayton, Ohio, in the UD arena. At this premier venue, the excitement begins and only carries on from there. There are 14 venues in total spanning 12 states.

To keep up with the excitement, one can watch the games on March Madness Live, CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV, or like a true hard-core fan, you can take a road trip across the country. To keep up with the action, you can watch the live bracket unfold and buy tickets. Ticket prices can fluctuate, but for the first round session one game on March 17 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the prices start at $45 and can even go over $800 depending on the seat. If you want to catch a game, buy tickets as soon as possible so prices don’t rise or sell out.

This year’s road trip could take you from Dayton, Ohio; to Greensboro, North Carolina; to Louisville Kentucky; and finally end in Houston, Texas. The NCAA championship game culminates on April 3 in Texas at NRG Stadium. Whatever way you travel or watch the games — good luck, have fun and go Hokies!

ELIZABETH KITLEY IS APPROACHING UNCHARTED TERRITORY

The Virginia Tech women’s basketball team defeated Louisville 75–67 on Sunday, March 5 to win the ACC Tournament for the first time in program history. As the Hokies head towards the NCAA Tournament, Elizabeth Kitley has already cemented herself as arguably one of the greatest basketball players to ever play for Virginia Tech.

The 2023 Hokies are loaded with experience and star-power, but no player shines brighter than center Kitley, who has been beyond dominant in her career at Virginia Tech, amassing over 1,960 points, along with over 1,000 rebounds. Kitley is a two-time ACC player of the year, and is currently on the Wooden Award Watch List. These candidates must demonstrate strong character both on and off the court, as well as offensive and defensive excellence. Kitley has exhibited those qualities extensively since she arrived in Blacksburg.

Kitley was an integral part of the Hokies’ 2019 recruiting class coming out of Northwest Guilford High School in Summerfield, North Carolina. She was the school’s only ESPN 100 commit and was ranked seventh at her position. It didn’t take long for the freshman to acclimate herself. In her collegiate debut, she scored a season-high 27 points in Tech’s rout of Saint Francis. She went on to average 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds on the season. As a result, she was named ACC Freshman of the Year.

Throughout the course of her career, Kitley has dominated the ACC. Last season, she was named to the First Team All-ACC and All-Defensive Team. Kitley has been First Team All-ACC three consecutive seasons.

Her dominance in the conference has translated into the winning column for the Hokies. After winning just 15 games in a season impacted by COVID-19, the Hokies have won at least 70 percent of their games in each of the past two seasons, including a 27–9 ACC regular season record over the past two seasons.

This past season, the Hokies went 27–4 and ended the regular season on an eight game winning streak. Five of the eight

victories were against ranked opponents. Kitley’s dominance has helped steer the Hokies to fourth in The AP News Top 25 Women’s Basketball Poll. On March 12, it was announced that the Hokies secured a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.

Kitley’s accolades speak for themselves, but there have been plenty of great individual athletes of all sports to come through Blacksburg. There have also been athletes that came up just short of the ultimate goal, a national championship.

Michael Vick led the Hokies football team to a perfect 11–0 record and a spot in the national championship game in 1999. Despite the fact that Virginia Tech lost to Florida State and fell short of reaching the pinnacle of college football, the season was filled with nostalgia and accomplishments.

Bruce Smith was a defensive end for the Hokies who received All-American honors in 1983 and 1984. Smith later went on to be selected first overall in the 1985 NFL draft, leading to a Hall of Fame career where he played primarily for the Buffalo Bills.

If Kitley and company were to bring a national championship to Blacksburg, would she vault legends like Vick and Smith as the greatest Hokie of all time? Virginia Tech has never won an NCAA team championship in any sport, so Kitley bringing the school their first would certainly place her firmly in the running for greatest Hokie athlete ever.

THOMAs BRAY | ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

One of Virginia Tech’s finest athletes has the chance to accomplish even more.

HAMAD ALHENDI / COLLEGIATE TIMES Elizabeth Kitley (33) attempting a free throw, Nov. 9 2021.