March 30, 2021

collegiatetimes.com

March 30, 2021

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

BEST OF BLACKSBURG list of winners on page 6

Opinions

PAGE 2 March 30, 2021

editor@collegiatetimes.com

collegiatetimes.com

IN-PERSON FALL SEMESTER Tim Sands calls for an in-person semester this fall pg. 3

Course Request: Stressful for many, conquerable by all With a little planning and a lot of patience, the Course Request process can become virtually painless.

JULIANNE JOYCE opinions editor

Course Request opened this week, which means that most students are spending hours deliberating over their ideal schedule for next semester before finally hitting “submit.” Unfortunately, these hours of deliberation don’t result in immediate answers. For the following weeks, students wait as the registrar office’s computerized scheduling program works to determine who, out of 35,000 students, gets which course and who must try again the following semester. During the week of Course Request, students might feel as if they have control over their futures; however, those feelings quickly subside once we hand over the responsibility to the school, rendering our futures no longer ours to ensure.

This process is equally stressful for completely undecided students and students who have everything mapped out.

Many undecided freshmen plan to decide their major by selecting an assortment of classes that interest them and then pursuing whichever subject most inspires them; with so many classes available, it’s hard to shake the feeling that the classes not chosen could have been the key to illuminating your future path.

On the other hand, some students know exactly what they want to study and have all four years’ worth of courses planned out to a tee; they lay out each class they’ll need to take every semester in order to complete their major requirements and graduate on time. This perfectly planned bubble is burst, though, when freshmen receive their Course Request results and find that their plan has been disrupted by too-full classes.

So, for the vast majority of students, the anxiety and uncertainty of both the decision

making and the waiting period is extremely taxing; however, while the school could take measures to generally improve the process, there are many things students can do to make it easier on themselves — starting with a mindset switch.

For the undecided student: You are bound to discover what you are passionate about somehow. It’s smart to explore what’s out there, but it’s impossible to take every class that the school offers. Thoroughly read the course descriptions and go with your gut; your instinct is what you’ll have to rely on when you choose your major, so it’ll be good practice.

For the four-year-plan student: it’s normal to despair when your plans are jumbled by forces outside of your control. Take comfort in the possibility that your desired class being unavailable to you could lead to a new class that results in a new passion. I like to think that college is more about exploration than rigidity; you could have many unborn interests that lie outside of your four-year plan.

Once you’re feeling better about this stressful process in general, you can think about steps you can take to increase your chances of getting your desired classes.

“The best advice I have for students who feel the stress of Course Request is to remember that unlike (the week of) Add/ Drop, it’s not important that you complete your Course Request the very first day,” said Christina Minford, professional academic advisor at Virginia Tech. “Whether you fill it in the first day or the last day, you will be equally likely to get the classes.”

Furthermore, nothing is set in stone until the add/drop week is over. During this week, the website Course Pickle becomes every student’s best friend. If a student is not granted a spot in a class and that class

Voice your opinion. Send letters to the Collegiate Times.

All letters must include a name and phone number. Students 365 Squires Student Center must include year and major. Faculty and staff must include Blacksburg, VA, 24061 position and department. Other submissions must include opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com city of residence and relationship to Virginia Tech (i.e., alumni, parent, etc.). We reserve the right to edit for any reason. Anonymous letters will not be printed.

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.

is full during add/drop week, they can enter the course request number (CRN) and be notified if a spot opens up.

For students balancing work and school, Course Request can feel like a puzzle that’s impossible to solve, but there are tools that can help to seamlessly integrate courses into busy schedules.

Course Request can be a frustrating and painful process for everyone, but especially for students who don’t take advantage of the help and alternative options available.

“You can find certain websites like PScheduler to show you possible options for how your classes could be arranged in terms of your schedule preference,” Minford said.

“This can be especially helpful if you are also working while going to school.”

Students have advisors for a reason, and they possess a wealth of knowledge that can only be accessed by students who take the initiative.

“Remember that your academic advisors are there to help you with knowing which classes would be best to take next — you do not need to figure it out on your own,” Minford said.

Advisors are especially busy during Course Request, so they are more inclined to devote their time to students who think

ahead.

“I can have as many as 12 advising appointments during a Course Request day,” Minford said. “I really love it when a proactive student will meet with me before Course Request even begins. I normally have a lot more energy and time to give to the student during a typical week versus a Course Request week.”

Ultimately, it is impossible for a school as large as Virginia Tech to accommodate each student and guarantee them their first choice schedules. However, if students are strategic in their approach toward Course Request, it is possible to attain the perfect schedule. The process can be tedious and is almost sure to test students’ patience, but as long as students remain diligent and utilize the school’s resources, it is most certainly conquerable.

@CollegiateTimes

COLL LLEG EGIA IAT TE TIMES

NEWSROOM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

231-9865 Editor-in-Chief: Tori Walker (editor@collegiatetimes.com) Managing editors: Emily Hannah and Lexi Solomon Design editors: Celina Ng, Heather Trobridge and Sydney Johnson Copy editors: Abby Evans and Sean Lyons News editors: Adiah Gholston and Ben Walls Lifestyles editors: Molly Dye and Olivia Ferrare Sports editors: Claire Castagno, Devin Shepard and Amber Williams Opinions editors: Abby Durrer and Julianne Joyce Photo editors: Ethan Candelario and Anisha Kohli

Social media editors: Emily Logue (Twitter) and Deanna Driver (Facebook and Instagram) Multimedia editor: Katie Dillon Have a news tip? newstips@collegiatetimes.com BUSINESS STAFF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

231-9860 Business manager: Taylor Gerrells (business@collegemedia.com) MEDIAMATE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

888-897-7711 collegiatetimes.com/media_kit/ orders@mymediamate.com

The Collegiate Times, a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, was established in 1903 by and for the students of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The Collegiate Times is published every Tuesday of the academic year except during exams and vacations. To order a reprint of a photograph printed in the Collegiate Times, visit reprints.collegemedia.com. The Collegiate Times is a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit with a mission to provide educational experience in business and production of mass media for Virginia Tech students. © Collegiate Times, 2020. All rights reserved. Material published in the Collegiate Times is the property thereof, and may not be reprinted without the express written consent of the Collegiate Times.

Advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Collegiate Times.

News

editor@collegiatetimes.com

collegiatetimes.com

March 30, 2021 PAGE 3

TURNER PLACE Turner Place rated best dining hall on campus pg. 5

Virginia Tech announces plans for in-person fall semester and campus vaccine clinic President Sands says the university is “excited” for the upcoming fall semester.

SAVANNAH WEBB news writer

Finally, the news many Hokies have anticipated since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic: Virginia Tech announced its intention for a fully in-person fall semester.

In order for this to happen, the university is aiming for a mass student vaccination clinic to take place by the end of spring semester.

President Tim Sands announced the plans at a virtual town hall meeting Thursday, March 18.

Due to the increasing number of vaccines going out in the state — over 1 million have been distributed so far — the university is hopeful that a campus vaccine clinic will be possible. President Joe Biden also announced that all adults will be eligible to receive the vaccine by May 1, thus increasing the likelihood of a campus-wide vaccine clinic being held.

“We’re very hopeful that students will have the opportunity to be vaccinated before the end of the spring semester, and that this can be done in a very organized fashion and rather quickly,” Sands said.

Virginia Tech’s plan for an in-person fall

semester is dependent on vaccines being readily available to students and faculty so social distancing is no longer necessary.

The university hopes for a majority of students to be vaccinated before the start of the semester, but they will continue their vigilant prevalence testing regardless.

“We are excited to begin preparations for a fully in-person experience this upcoming fall at Virginia Tech,” Sands said. “My hope and expectation is that the fall semester experience will be much like the pre-pandemic experience, with enhancements based on what we have learned through the course of the pandemic.”

No decision has been made yet in regards to masks in classrooms and on-campus events. The university will release an announcement closer to fall, depending on state requirements and the progression of the pandemic.

President Sands is hopeful that the fall semester will bring back a sense of normalcy that has been absent this past year.

“I look forward to a time when students may study abroad again, when students and faculty will work side by side to discuss and solve global issues, when campus comes

New River Health District moves to Phase 1c

The health district says approximately 15,000 New River Valley residents are fully vaccinated.

ADIAH GHOLSTON news editor

The New River Health District will begin administering the COVID-19 vaccine to people who fall in the Phase 1c category, which includes university employees. The district anticipates an increase in vaccine supply that will allow them to transition to Phase 1c.

Vaccines will be administered through

large-scale clinics for employees and students of higher education institutions.

Appointments are in the process of being scheduled through employer groups. Noelle Bissell, director of the New River Health District, estimates the district will need approximately 50,000 vaccines to cover the higher education population.

Virginia Tech employees will be able to go to vaccination clinics beginning next week

BENJAMIN JUDELSON / COLLEGIATE TIMES An in-person physics class at Virginia Tech before the pandemic, September 12, 2018.

alive with a multitude of activities and alumni and parents are frequent visitors, when downtown Blacksburg is bustling with students and residents, and when the ground beneath Lane Stadium shakes on football weekends,” Sands said. “I am more hopeful and optimistic than ever that this time will come this fall and that Virginia Tech will

feel like the Virginia Tech we all love and cherish.”

on Tuesday, March 30, through Thursday, April 1, at Radford University’s Dedmon Center.

Employees can sign up for appointments between 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on these days. Up to 1,500 vaccine doses will be administered throughout the three days.

Currently the district is administering the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines through the clinics. If the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is available then it would be offered in a separate clinic. Offering all three at one clinic is a logistics problem, according to Bissell.

College students in the New River district are included in the Phase 1c group, but students graduating this spring are a priority for receiving vaccinations ahead of commencement.

Phase 1c also includes housing and construction, public safety, media, finance,

legal services and other essential employees.

Large vaccine clinics are currently being held at Radford University’s Dedmon Center, but the district is working to find sites that can host a larger number of people as the vaccine supply increases. These sites preferably would include more parking and space for drive-thru vaccination options.

People eligible for the Phase 1c vaccination category should pre-register with the Virginia Department of Health.

The district is still working on distributing vaccines to people in the Phase 1b group, which includes individuals who are 65 years and older as well as individuals younger than 65 with high-risk medical conditions.

New River Valley residents who are 65 and over and have not received a vaccination are encouraged to go to the district’s clinics held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

@CollegiateTimes

APPLY NOW for Fall 2021!

Call to see why we are continuously named one of VT student’s favorite!

www.foxridgeliving.com • 833.217.2209

Lifestyles

editor@collegiatetimes.com

collegiatetimes.com

March 30, 2021 PAGE 5

ANCIENT ART TATTOO Ancient Art Tattoo voted Best Place to Get Tattooed pg 6.

TURNER PLACE RATED BEST DINING HALL ON CAMPUS

Both students and employees agree that Turner’s atmosphere and food make it the No. 1 dining destination at Virginia Tech.

OLIVIA FERRARE lifestyles editor

One of the first brags a prospective Hokie will hear about Virginia Tech is the superior food on campus. Every dining hall brings new and delicious options to cater to the wide range of student palates and tastes in Blacksburg. Best of Blacksburg had to ask: what dining hall ranks above the rest?

Turner Place, nestled behind McBryde Hall on the academic side of campus, reigned supreme. Turner offers a variety of food options, from the addicting bagel sandwiches at Bruegger’s Bagels to the chips and queso at Qdoba to the made-to-order Origami hibachi to the plethora of smoothie options at Jamba Juice. Even the chicken and waffles at 1872 Fire Grill won awards as Virginia Tech’s best chicken dish (a very controversial opinion for chicken parm and General Tso’s fans).

Critics might cite Turner’s distance from most residence halls as cause for a lower rating, but for most, the lengthy walk makes the heart grow fonder for its wide selection.

Hiking across the Drillfield or fielding the traffic on Turner Street makes that iced latte from Dolci E Caffe or slice of pizza from Atomic Pizzeria all the more worth it for students. However, its extreme convenience for cadets, especially after physical training or early-morning formation, is one major perk. It is also central to large academic buildings that will eventually return to hosting lecture halls full of hungry students.

It is not just the amazing food that brings students in. The atmosphere is a contributing factor; with the fun playlist full of throwbacks and the hard work employees put into sanitizing tables and chairs for students, it is no wonder people keep coming back. Even in the early hours of the morning, the music is blaring and the staff is happy to serve the

OLIVIA FERRARE / COLLEGIATE TIMES Peter Tozzi in front of Lavery Hall, home of Turner Place, March 25, 2021.

Virginia Tech community. Kareem Badr, a freshman general engineering student, works at Dolci E Caffe and had only great things to say about his workplace.

“I would assume that we have the best dining hall based on the quality of the food and the great environment to eat and study in,” Badr said. “Students feel confident that the food is clean and the place they are eating in is always sanitized.”

Peter Tozzi, a freshman national security and foreign affairs major from Manassas, Virginia, also works at Dolci E Caffe and loves the environment both in front of and behind the counter.

“All of my coworkers are super kind and helpful, and since this dining hall is so popular, I see people I know all the time,” Tozzi said. “I’m always waving to my friends.”

Both Tozzi and Badr have moved around from Dolci E Caffe to other areas in Turner

Place and in other dining halls on campus.

The camaraderie and energy of Turner Place employees and visitors makes them love their jobs even more. Next time you stop in for a post-class Qdoba bowl, your daily Bruegger’s bacon, egg and cheese bagel or sushi from Origami, make sure to wave and thank an employee for all their hard work.

@CollegiateTimes

OLIVIA FERRARE / COLLEGIATE TIMES Kareem Badr making crepe toppings at Dolci E Caffe, March 25, 2021.

PAGE 6 March 30, 2021

editor@collegiatetimes.com

collegiatetimes.com

2021 Winners Best Place for Breakfast Our Daily Bread Bakery & Bistro

Best Coffee Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea

Best Bakery Carol Lee Donut Shop

Best Sweets Sugar Magnolia

Best Burgers Sharkey’s

Best Dining on Campus Turner Place

Best International Fare Cabo Fish Taco

Best Overall Restaurant Cabo Fish Taco

Best Vegetarian Fare Gillie’s Inc

Best Overall Bar Top of the Stairs

Best Mexican Fare El Rodeo

Best Festival Steppin’ Out

Best Subs Sub Station II Restaurant

Best Hiking Trail Cascades National Rec Trail

Best Pizza Benny Marzano’s

Best Golf Course and Driving Range Virginia Tech Golf Course

Best Sushi Green’s Grill & Sushi Bar Best Wings Buffalo Wild Wings Best Delivery Service The Beast of Blacksburg Best Late-night Food Cook Out

Best Date Spot Blacksburg Wine Lab Best Karaoke Top of the Stairs Best Live Music The Milk Parlor

Best Place to Watch Sports on TV Buffalo Wild Wings Best Place to Play Pool or Shoot Darts Champs Best Place to See a Movie B&B Theatres Best Happy Hour Sharkey’s

Best Beer Selection The Cellar Restaurant Best Bookstore Barnes & Noble Best Place for Flowers Blacksburg Farmers Market & Market Square Park Best Jewelry Store Capone’s Jewelry

Best Cocktail Sharkey’s

Best Place to Buy Sporting Goods DICK’S Sporting Goods

Best Salon or Spa Nail Bar Blacksburg

Best Clothing Store Campus Emporium

Best Gym Blacksburg Boxing and Fitness

Best Place to Get VT Gear Campus Emporium

Best Place to Get Tattooed Ancient Art Tattoo Studio

Best Apartment Complex Edge Apartments and Townhomes

Best Place to Get Copies Made Newman Library

Best Law Firm Montgomery Law Office

Best Grocery Store Kroger

Best Place to Get a Car or Car Serviced South Main Auto Service

Best Wine Selection Blacksburg Wine Lab

ANCIENT ART TATTOO VOTED BEST PLACE TO GET TATTOOED With over 30 years in business, Ancient Art Tattoo remains a busy spot to get tattooed even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PEYTON MANFRE lifestyles staff writer

Tucked away on West Roanoke Street in downtown Blacksburg, Ancient Art Tattoo looks like the quintessential tattoo shop.

Through its glass storefront branded with

a sign reading “Radchad’s Ancient Art Tattoo,” one can see black and red walls full of framed designs.

Operating in Blacksburg for decades, Ancient Art has been providing locals and Virginia Tech students with professional tattoos and piercings all the while. However,

in October 2020, the shop underwent renovations including new ownership.

“Ancient Art has been in business for 30 years; we purchased it back in October,” said Todd Butler, current co-owner and piercer at Ancient Art. “It’s a very well known shop that’s been

around for a long time and we wanted to keep the name going — keep the legacy.”

continued on page 7

editor@collegiatetimes.com continued from page 6

Butler’s passion for the industry comes from his long-standing, close proximity to it.

“I’ve always been tattooed since I was young,” Butler said. “And I’ve always loved the industry — I’ve just always been around it.”

But ler a nd Ra dcha d Wy mer, co-owner and tattoo artist, proved their loyalty to the business during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic last year. Like most industries, tattooing was greatly impacted by

collegiatetimes.com the pandemic. “(COVID-19) made business stop for a couple months when it all started up and we were at phase one,” Butler said. “And then we traveled around to other states that were open to keep money coming in and that’s when we purchased Ancient Art.” Since places have started reopening, Ancient Art has been busy. A lot of people, especially Virginia Tech students, have been visiting the shop daily to get pierced or tattooed as walkins. Additionally, the appointment books are filling fast.

However, precautions due to the ongoing pandemic remain important.

A day in the life of a shop owner includes a lot of cleaning and sanitizing in order to see to customers in the safest way possible.

“When people start coming in, we just kind of take one walk-in or one appointment at a time,” Butler said.

“With COVID-19 going on, we try to keep the flow of people to a minimum inside the shop.”

Overall, Ancient Art continues to be an important asset to the Blacksburg and Virginia Tech community, offering

March 30, 2021 PAGE 7

a professional place for people to express themselves through the art of tattooing. Those who are interested can stay up to date on appointment and walk-in availability by visiting the shop’s Facebook page.

@CollegiateTimes

OUR DAILY BREAD NAMED BEST PLACE FOR BREAKFAST Find out why Our Daily Bread’s bakery goods lend themselves to being Blacksburg’s No. 1 breakfast spot.

MATTHEW HARRIS lifestyles staff writer

Our Daily Bread is a well-known staple of the Blacksburg community.

T he restaurant ser ves up f resh breakfast, bread, pastries and more daily and draws a huge crowd for brunch each weekend. It’s no surprise that Our Daily Bread took home Best of Blacksburg’s award for Best Place for Breakfast.

Our Daily Bread’s origins are steeped in the Hokie community, having been founded by a professor at the university. “(Our Daily Bread) originally started back in the ‘80s,” said Jen Morrison, a current co-owner of Our Daily Bread alongside Hannah McCoy and Michael Soriano. “A chemistry professor at Virginia Tech named Karen started the bakery where the Cellar is right now.”

Morrison and her team have been running the restaurant since they purchased it in 2019. While the ownership has changed hands a few times since its inception in the ‘80s, Our Daily Bread has stayed true to its roots as a bakery.

“We’re definitely known for our breakfast in addition to our pastries and breads,” Morrison said.

Being known for breakfast creates extremely busy mornings at Our Daily Bread. However, the volume of food the staff needs to produce each morning has not made them waver in their

commitment to freshness. “(Ever y mor ning has) lots of breakfast going out,” Morrison said.

“It’s also when our production team is really hustling, pulling fresh bread out of the ovens, and getting everything prepared for the day (including) the cakes and pastries. Everything is made from scratch, so we’re up and at ՚em early in the morning.”

Our Daily Bread’s fresh ingredients allow them to create a unique variety on the menu with their daily specials.

“To be perfectly honest with you, I have no idea what (specials) we’re going to serve tomorrow morning,” Morrison said. “We come in and get a look at what’s fresh and looking great (to determine them). Our specials are super popular because they change often.”

For customers that are less spontaneous, there are also some incredible staples on the menu. Our Daily Bread has classic breakfast offerings like waffles and omelettes but has also taken inspiration from a French couple that owned the restaurant for a bit to create another staple.

“We are absolutely known for our poached eggs,” Morrison said. “You can’t get much more French than that. (They’re) super classic with our Hollandaise sauce.”

Of course, the owners like to dig in on the breakfast as well.

“I love our breakfast sandwich; it’s

the best of everything,” Morrison said. “It’s our fresh-baked croissant; it typically comes with bacon, but I sometimes prefer sausage, (with) eggs any way and a little bit of arugula and tomatoes. (The sandwich) is super fresh and hits all the bases.”

Our Daily Bread’s longevity and commitment to quality have made them a standout in the Blacksburg community. Although only taking the reins recently with the purchase of the restaurant in 2019, Morrison and her team have stayed committed to being a part of the community.

“We’re all most proud of having an opportunity to be a member of the community and carry the torch of something that’s been well-loved and trusted for so long,” Morrison said.

“We take a lot of pride in that and are happy to be a part of it.”

As with all other businesses last year, however, Our Daily Bread had to change how they interact with the community to reduce the spread of COVID-19. To keep employees and customers safe, the restaurant made some changes to their service.

“We’ve i nt roduced some new services that we didn’t have in the past, including our curbside and delivery services,” Morrison said. “We introduced online ordering, which is going to stick. So, there’s some silver linings to come out of (this experience).”

The changes to service this year have

not changed the quality of their food, as evident by the title Our Daily Bread now holds. The owners are still very confident in the quality and freshness of the food they serve and are proud that the community feels the same.

“We’re the best place for breakfast in Blacksburg,” Morrison said. “We always like to be recognized by our customers and people who have been loyally serving us as well as we serve them.”

Our Daily Bread aims to stay ahead of the curve and continue to culinarily innovate by listening to the community.

“One of the nice things about being independently owned, small and private is that we can be responsive to what people are asking,” Morrison said. “We pride ourselves in having the ability to get to know the people that come in and we listen when people make suggestions.”

Moving ahead in 2021, Our Daily Bread looks to retain its title in the best way they know how. Consider stopping by and experiencing the Best Place for Breakfast in Blacksburg, as they have no intentions of letting that title slip.

“We’re going to keep on cooking,” Morrison said.

@CollegiateTimes

Sports

PAGE 8 March 30, 2021

collegiatetimes.com

editor@collegiatetimes.com

The Hokies split up for three meets to kick off their outdoor track season After a strong start to the outdoor season, the team travels to Gainesville, Florida, for the Florida Relays.

GLEN RORIE sports staff writer

Just weeks removed from the NCAA Indoor Championship, the Virginia Tech track and field team is back on the road as they started their 2021 outdoor season the weekend of March 25-27. Most of the team was split up among the Weems Baskin Invitational and Raleigh Relays meets, while two others traveled to the Texas Relays for pole vault.

Day One Distance and field started off the season with Diego Zarate making his official return to Virginia Tech with an impressive finish in the 5000m run. Zarate ran 13:57.87, which is now the fifth fastest time in Virginia Tech outdoor history. He was followed by Sean Stuck who placed 41stsr and David Kennedy who placed 76th overall. Just like Zarate, Sara Freix and Kyra Lopez made their returns to the team. The two women competed in the 10000m run with Freix

placing sixth with a time of 34:14.86 and Lopez placing 16th with a time of 34:56.47.

On the field, Enid Duut placed 11th in the women’s shot put with the throw of 13.35m.

Day Two Another distance runner made her return to the track after not competing for over a year, Sarah Edwards. In her return she made history writing her name into the Virginia Tech history book with running 16:02.37 in 5000m run. With this time she placed 13th overall in the competitive race; she also dropped over 30 seconds from her original personal best. Edwards now holds the thirdfastest women’s 5k in the team’s outdoor history.

Enid Duut competed in the women’s discus throw and held her own as she placed fifth place. She threw 49.34m which places her top 10 in the ACC. Day Three In the last day of the Weems Baskins Invitational the sprinters came to shine.

The day started with the men’s 4x100m

relay team taking second place overall with a time of 40.07, which is tied for the fifthfastest time in Virginia Tech history. Patrick Forrest later ran in the 400m dash and placed fourth. Forrest ran a 46.87 and edged his name into the record book with that time being the third-fastest in program history.

On the flipside, Caitlan Tate placed sixth in the women’s 400m dash with a time of 54.63. The 4x400m relay A Team of Jacory Patterson, Cameron Rose, Tyreke Sapp and Forrest placed third in the finals. The team ran 3:11.05, which is now the eighth-fastest time in Virginia Tech history.

Freshman Cameron Rose was a Swiss Army knife in his outdoor debut. In the three races he ran in the meet — the 4x400m relay, 4x100m relay and the 200m dash — he placed in the top five. In the 200m dash he placed fourth overall with a time of 20.87; he is now tied for the fifth-fastest time in program history for the men’s 200m dash.

In the field, Chauncey Chambers has not lost a step from the indoor season as he

won the men’s triple jump with the jump of 15.76m, reaching fourth in program history with that jump. Aidan Clark placed third in the men’s high jump invite as he jumped 2.02m.

In the last day of the Raleigh Relays the throwers ended the team’s weekend on a high note as Sara Killinen threw 63.89m in the hammer throw and placed second overall. Emma Thor followed behind her as she threw 61.78m and placed third. In the men’s hammer throw Alexios Prodanas finished threw 63.60m and placed fifth.

With that throw he moved to ninth in Virginia Tech history. This was Prodanas’ first time competing in an outdoor meet for the Hokies.

After a strong start to the outdoor season, the team travels to Gainesville, Florida, for the Florida Relays. The meet will take place April 1-3. @CTSportsTalk

Women’s volleyball earns first season restart win over the Orange The Hokies had two solo blocks and 16 block assists to hold off Syracuse, resulting in a Senior Day victory.

AMBER WILLIAMS sports editor

The Hokies (6 – 7, 5 – 7) took down the Orange (5 – 7, 5 – 7) after five sets, 3 – 2, for a spectacular Senior Day Win. This was the first time Tech was able to overpower Syracuse since 2016 and its first win of the Hokies spring restart. The Hokies had 68 digs to Syracuse’s 63 with Sophomore Logan Mosley posting a season-high of 25.

Kaity Smith, Ashley Homan and Marisa Cerchio reached double numbers for kills with 19, 15 and 16. Smith moved to 13th all-time for the Hokies with 1,099 kills for her career.

Brie Postema and Mara Perry each set

career highs in assists with 36 and 20, respectively. Postema had a productive game also recording two aces for her second straight match.

Defensively, the Hokies performed phenomenally, keeping the Orange at a hitting percentage of .168. Tech had two solo blocks and 16 block assists to hold off Syracuse.

Tech will face off against Miami on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Boston College on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.

@CTSportsTalk

COURTESY OF HOKIESPORTS The Virginia Tech volleyball team won against Syracuse 3-2, March 21, 2021.