September 21, 2021

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September 21, 2021

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Hokies scramble for affordable housing as rent prices increase

High student demand for off-campus housing has increased rent and reduced affordable housing options for Blacksburg locals.

MOMIJI BARLOW news editor

Unlike some universities, Virginia Tech does not require students to live on campus beyond their freshman year. As a result, for many students the apartment hunting frenzy begins early in the fall. While many students planning to live off campus in the next year have started their search, numerous students have been faced with hiked-up rent prices compared to previous years.

According to a 2020 housing market profile from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, apartment market conditions in Blacksburg are very tight due to the high demand for apartments from the student population. In the first quarter of 2020, the average apartment rent increased 12% from the previous year, whereas in the first quarter of 2019, it had increased 3%. Because students prefer to live close to campus, management companies were able to increase rent while retaining low vacancy rates, causing prices to rise for another year.

Aidan Mosher, a sophomore studying political science, is currently living in Collegiate Suites, but recently discovered that his rent would be going up significantly for the next year. He believes part of the reason is due to his complex’s plans to add new furniture, among other improvements.

“I think I was surprised by how much it jumped. I’ve been looking at different housing options now,” Mosher said.

Mosher said that he experienced the same issue with rent increases last year when first looking for off-campus housing, but does not know if competition from other complexes has impacted his own rent or not.

“Last year, when me and my roommates were looking for apartments, we were considering The Village, and then that (rent) jumped up randomly 200 dollars,” Mosher said. “I don’t know if the other places’ rent has affected that or not, but I’ve seen it across multiple areas, not just where I’m living now.”

Sarah Golliver, a leasing professional for Collegiate Suites, explained that the roughly 30% rent increase came about due to a change in management to Coastal Ridge Real Estate. Coastal Ridge also took over Hunters Ridge, Terrace View and Maple Ridge — all popular apartment complexes that students flock to every year.

“They came in and did the evaluation of the entire area and all of the other apartment complexes around us, market survey stuff, and they determined that we needed to be brought up to market value,” Golliver said. “We were well below market value compared to a lot of the other apartments around us. They were kind of bringing us back up to the market value around us, and we still have lower prices compared to other apartment complexes around us.”

The demand for student housing is high enough that Collegiate Suites does not anticipate any negative impact on retention of student residents despite the rent increase.

“I still think we are remaining very competitive; we are filling up very quickly as we speak,” Golliver said. “We just opened leasing on Friday and we have, I don’t know the exact number, but we have received a lot of applications. We are expecting to be completely pre-leased for next year hopefully by the end of the month. Collegiate Suites is always one

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of the first places to sell out of apartments and we’re still expecting to be one of the first to go.”

The demand for off-campus rental apartments by students are also affecting housing prices for the rest of the population in Blacksburg as well, especially low to median income earners, according to a comprehensive plan on housing developed by the Planning and Building Department of Blacksburg. On average, real estate prices in Blacksburg are higher than anywhere else in the New River Valley, and student demand for housing has bumped up the price of rental properties and reduced the affordable housing options in the area. This can lead to difficulty in renting or buying a house affordably for some residents, and they can be forced to sacrifice other costs of living, such as food or medical care.

Many efforts have been made to alleviate this problem, with varying degrees of success.

In January of this year, Delegate Chris Hurst introduced a bill that would limit student housing in Blacksburg. The bill stated that “the Blacksburg Town Council is authorized to accept, as part of residential re-zonings, voluntary proffered conditions that would limit or prohibit occupancy by undergraduate students or persons under the age of 23, unless

such persons are part of a family.”

The bill, however, was killed by Hurst only a couple of days after it was introduced, the reason being that he realized the issue needed to be thought through more before further action was taken.

Other attempts have been more successful, and the Planning and Building Department of Blacksburg’s comprehensive plan outlines some of the improvements the town has seen over the last 15 years. They include the building or rehabilitating of 67 homes for low- or moderate-income households as well as $35 million being funneled into the NRV to support affordable housing.

Students can reach out to Off-Campus Housing, a part of Student Engagement and Campus Life, and set up an appointment, find roommates, or list their property for rent or sublet. The Off-Campus Housing Fair is another resource for more information, scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 26, in the Commonwealth Ballroom in Squires Student Center.

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September 21, 2021 PAGE 3

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Caught in the Crossfire: Should Lane Stadium be permitted to sell alcohol at games?

This year, Virginia Tech made the controversial decision to allow the sale of alcohol in Lane Stadium. Football fans were itching to return to their beloved games after an extended hiatus, so it can be argued that this fact was what caused one of the more chaotic crowds we’ve had in a while. Another argument can be made that the readily available alcohol was to blame. We can all probably agree that a disruptive crowd is something we want to avoid in the future, so to do that, should Lane cease to sell alcohol on its premises? Or, do we need to accept that fans are just a little bit restless and will calm down as time goes on, regardless of whether or not they are allowed to purchase alcohol during games? -Julianne Joyce, opinions editor

Alcohol not to blame for rowdiness at UNC game

T

Student excitement is to blame, and who are we to condemn that?

he gates opened at Lane Stadium on Sept. 3, and the Hokie faithfuls took no time in enjoying themselves to the fullest.

The return of Lane Stadium caught the national attention in both positive and negative lights as the sold-out crowd sparked internet debate about concerns regarding the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus. Long concession lines, people sitting in incorrect seats, and a lack of enforcement of mask-wearing in enclosed areas forced an apology from Virginia Tech on the Tuesday following the game.

Back in June, Virginia Tech approved the sale of alcoholic beverages at Lane Stadium in all areas of the stadium, in the hopes of enhancing the game day experience. After everything that transpired at Virginia Tech’s home opener, it’s now in question whether the sale of alcoholic beverages should continue to be allowed.

Alcohol and college football stadiums have shared common ground since the beginning of college football, long before anyone was selling drinks inside the stadium. Tailgating has become a mainstay for sporting events across the world, and having intoxicated fans in the stands is an extremely popular concept.

The scenes at Lane on Sept. 3 were not pretty, but blaming alcohol consumption is a very easy cop-out. The game was

not just any other game taking place in Blacksburg; it was the first time the Hokies hosted full capacity fans since Virginia Tech took on Pittsburgh back in November 2019. The anticipation for this football game peaked this summer as COVID-19 restrictions were lifted by local and national government officials. After what has now been roughly 18 months of some form of lockdown, students and fans alike were like children on Christmas morning.

Excusing behavior that endangers the experience for fans in attendance is not what is relevant: rather, just an understanding of what happens when 60,000 fans are suddenly allowed to re-engage with a sport that thrives on its spectators’ hype and excitement.

Pointing blame at a system that allows alcohol to be consumed during game time is ignoring the decades-long tradition that is the actual root cause of the issue.

Bottles and cans in the hands of everyone from Houston Street to the Duck Pond tailgates, including some members of the Hokie community that are not of age, is a common scene on game days.

Are we really trying to explain why college kids lost their minds during the first game day in almost two years?

Students have been looking forward to tailgating on Center Street for a very long time, and the consumption of alcohol on

Center Street is not monitored strictly.

Understanding the culture of tailgating, especially at a major football school like Virginia Tech, is important to comprehending the events that took place at the game.

There are ways to fix these problems to ensure a better experience moving forward for everyone in the stadium. For example, setting a time cap on when alcohol can be purchased could help promote a more safe environment.

Matthew Traub, a senior majoring in business information technology has held season tickets since his freshman year, spoke on the issue. “I think that the chaos would have happened anyway”, said Traub.

A potential aid in solving this problem could be the use of resources such as water or crackers — food and drink that can help people sober up when necessary. Handing out free water instead of charging high prices for it would encourage people to stay hydrated and refrain from acting immaturely.

Virginia Tech also cannot allow the mass consumption of alcohol to be combined with the high prices for food and water if they want to ensure a safe environment. Virginia Tech should lower the prices of food and water if it wants to keep selling alcohol in its stadiums, as it would encourage students to balance their

drinking with food and hydration. It’s possible that some attendees will solely gravitate to the alcohol — regardless of the food and nonalcoholic drink prices — but it’s important to make the smart option more affordable for those with sense.

Banning the sale of alcohol at the stadium is a backward step in the progress of limiting consumption, as it will only encourage more drinking before fans enter the stadium. Fans who want to enjoy alcohol at the game should not be penalized and forced to consume more before entering. This would only endanger students and fans more, as pressuring the consumption of alcohol prior to entering the stadium could cause unhealthy levels of intoxication.

The college game day experience is unlike most other sporting events. What makes it truly great are the high levels of fan involvement and excitement for their team. All of this is essential to the experience, but it can only be successful through safe and responsible measures.

While there is change that needs to be made, stopping the sale of alcohol within the stadium is a Band-Aid fix on a larger issue.

RORY AILOR • senior • multimedia journalism

PAGE 4 September 21, 2021

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Alcohol in Lane Stadium equals disaster

E

Hokie football fans were more disruptive than ever because of alcohol on-site.

arlier this summer, Virginia Tech announced that it would allow the sale of alcohol throughout all sections of Lane Stadium and Cassell Coliseum. This announcement marks the first time in years in which alcohol has been sold throughout the entire stadium, as purchases were previously limited to premium seating. Alcohol, sports and devout fans sounds like the perfect equation for a good time, right? Think again.

Lane Stadium should first reconsider selling alcohol as it promotes misbehavior among its attendees. Cristina Garrido, a senior majoring in international studies, described her game day experience in the student section following the new approval of alcohol sales in Lane Stadium.

“I think alcohol has had a negative impact on attendee behavior,” Garrido

said. “However, most of the disruptive behavior I’ve witnessed has been from students who either came to the game already intoxicated or are underage drinking.”

Whether or not attendees arrive at the stadium intoxicated, the ability to purchase alcohol during the game further increases the potential for disr uptive behavior. According to Nor thwester n Medicine, scientific evidence shows alcohol can have a negative impact on the brain; while alcohol can cause some euphoria and excitement, it can also impair one’s judgement within minutes of consumption, leading to disruptive behavior. This behavior not only disrupts the game, but can ruin other fans’ experiences as well.

In a statement emailed to students, Frank Shushok Jr., the vice president for student affairs, outlined the

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importance of upholding respect and proper behavior following the Hokies’ win against UNC on Sept. 3.

“From the obscenity hurled from a car at North Carolina fans eating lunch outside on Main Street, to drunken disruptions for families sitting adjacent to the student section, to outright disrespect of personnel working at the game, we fell short this week,” Shushok Jr. wrote.

This email excerpt not only outlines the problem with the increased access to alcohol within the stadium, but also shows how attendee behavior can reflect poorly on Virginia Tech. A “drunken disruption” is not what a family should remember when thinking of their time spent at Lane Stadium. Fans should have the freedom to enjoy the game without disruptions from those who cannot drink responsibly. Virginia Tech should instead limit the availability of alcohol at the stadium and further promote responsible drinking if they are to uphold a fun and safe game day experience.

Virginia Tech must also be mindful of how the new alcohol regulations will inf luence underage drinking.

According to Garrido, some of the disr uptive behavior witnessed at football games has been attributed to underage drinking. While a valid ID is required to purchase alcohol, simply allowing alcoholic beverages to be sold around the stadium can increase the occurrence of underage drinking.

Students may get creative and have others purchase alcohol on their behalf or find some other means of obtaining alcohol within the stadium.

It is no secret that underage drinking occurs within college students. In fact, a national survey conducted by the Center for Behavioral Statistics and Quality from the years 2018 to 2019 showed approximately 53% of college students aged 18 to 22 have consumed alcohol within one month of the survey while 33% have participated in bingedrinking within one month of the survey. While the alcohol sold at Lane Stadium is intended for those of legal age, the university must recognize that this distribution of alcohol makes it easier for underage students to get their hands on a drink.

However, there are some benefits to the new alcohol regulations, as described by Garrido.

“I think Lane Stadium should allow the distribution of alcohol because it can generate a lot of revenue for Virginia Tech Athletics and creates a better experience for alumni, season ticket holders and the general public, who make up the majority of the audience at the games,” Garrido said.

While the sale of alcohol does generate extra revenue for the school and can contribute to an exciting fan experience, Virginia Tech must reconsider how alcohol can negatively impact the game. If Lane Stadium is to continue to sell alcohol, the university needs to be more mindful of who is purchasing drinks and must design a more effective system for distribution.

This can include separating alcohol sales from those of non-alcoholic drinks and food to prevent long wait times at concessions.

Students and fans have looked forward to Virginia Tech athletic events, even before the decision to sell alcohol throughout the stadium was enacted. That has not changed. People can still continue to enjoy games and all that Lane Stadium has to offer without the added sale of alcohol. Alcohol, sports and devout fans are only a risky combination that can lead to obnoxious behavior.

Upon further review, the ruling on the field stands: It looks like our perfect equation for a good time is not so perfect after all.

OLIVIA NELSON • sophomore • biochemistry

Lifestyles

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September 21, 2021 PAGE 5

Flourishing of the arts: Moss Arts Center blooms with new exhibits and performances

The Moss Arts Center provides a space for students to explore art created by students and professionals and expand horizons through visual and performing arts.

MOLLY DYE lifestyles editor

As the fall 2021 semester progresses with a plethora of in-person events and activities, the Moss Arts Center offers a diverse collection of awe-inspiring exhibits and performances for the Virginia Tech and Blacksburg community.

Last weekend, Moss held its first free outdoor performances on Sept. 17 and 18 featuring choreography from BANDALOOP, a world-renowned dance group who manipulated gravity to glide across the side of the Moss Arts Center building in a fantasy-like routine.

In addition, fall exhibits opened to students on Sept. 9, and more in-person events are scheduled to follow through December. Last year, all Moss Arts Center events and performances were held online.

“It was great seeing students here in the galleries,” said Katie Gehrt, the director of marketing and communication at Moss Arts Center. “We hope that we can build even greater participation with students as we

return to in-person performances.”

According to Gehrt, Moss Arts Center plans to initiate several engagement activities so that students can become an active proponent of the arts. These activities may include master classes, artist talks and more.

Along with these engagement activities, Moss Arts Center Student Ambassadors — Virginia Tech students who advocate for and assist in Moss Arts Center programs — will be holding a student exhibition at Moss this November that all Virginia Tech students can send submissions to. Submissions include any original artwork including physical and digital displays.

“We did this for the first time last year and it was so inspiring to see artwork from talented students from a wide variety of majors,” Gehrt said.

One event that the staff at Moss is looking forward to is a performance from Pink Martini on Oct. 30. Last year, leading members China Forbes and Thomas Lauderdale performed at the livestream event HomeStage, and this time, they return in person with a complete musical ensemble.

“It’s a well-known group that has toured the world, and they have a fun, unique sound,” Gehrt said. “It’s going to feel like a really festive performance; I think we could all use that right now.”

Audiences will also have an opportunity to see one-woman act DeLanna Studi on Oct. 11 through Oct. 14 for Indigenous Peoples Day. Studi is a Cherokee activist and performer who will present “And So We Walked,” a story about tracing her ancestors’ roots on a 900-mile journey.

As in-person activities continue throughout the semester, Moss Arts Center staff is focusing on maintaining the safety of audiences and employees due to COVID-19.

“The logistics of presenting performances is more complex, since we need to think through every aspect of safety for both the artists, our staff, and our audiences,” said Margaret Lawrence, director of programming at Moss Arts Center. “During the (COVID-19) pandemic shutdown, we learned not to take audiences for granted — and we largely succeeded in re-fashioning fun, vibrant streaming performances and

conversations. Now the trick is to make audiences comfortable coming back to the in-person experiences they love.”

With the current lineup of events coming to Moss Arts Center this fall, students are encouraged to check out some of the performances, events and activities that the center has to offer. For performances, tickets are $10 each with an active Virginia Tech student ID. Students can also sign up for ticket notifications and free ticket claims by texting “arts” to 833-966-1838.

Don’t miss out on some of these once-ina-lifetime performances this fall at Moss Arts Center.

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Art in the air: BANDALOOP turns side of Moss Arts Center into stage Vertical dance group BANDALOOP performs textile-inspired dance on the side of Moss Arts Center.

ABBIGALE EVANS managing editor

The side of Moss Arts Center was transformed into a performing arts stage on Friday, Sept. 17, and Saturday, Sept. 18.

BANDALOOP, innovators of vertical dance, took to the skies as they glided across the glass windows of the arts center. The dancers performed elegant flips and emotive spins in front of a crowd of over 1,200 students, parents, community members and

faculty on Friday according to Katie Gehrt, the director of marketing and communication at the Moss Arts Center.

“Having something outside with the building as a dance floor — I have to see,” said Marise Robbins-Forbes, Virginia Tech’s director of development and an avid spectator. “I have never seen anything like it before.”

Margaret Lawrence, the director of programming at the Moss Arts Center, felt similarly as she looked up at the lithe

dancers above.

“This has just been a dream,” Lawrence said. “Having BANDALOOP here was something that started two years ago, way before the (COVID-19) pandemic … I think it’s beautiful because it makes you rethink what dance can be, but it also makes you see a building in a different way.”

According to their website, an integral part of BANDALOOP is education and outreach.

True to this mission, the dancers hosted a lecture on Sept. 15 where they performed

some of their dances and answered questions about how they were able to do these miraculous flights. The performers also taught a small group of Virginia Tech students on Sept. 16, hooking them up to harnesses of their own and letting them practice some of the techniques on a smaller, lower scale in the back of the Moss Arts Center.

“I hope that we can continue, you know, at the Moss Arts Center and Virginia Tech in general, to grow that atmosphere that arts are important too,” Gehrt said, smiling at the

PAGE 6 September 21, 2021 from page 5

crowd of people on the arts center lawn.

After floating down from the 32-foot tall glass side of the arts center, Rose Huey, a dancer and education manager for BANDALOOP, stood clad in a denim robe with flecks of golden glitter around their eyes. She spoke about the preparation that went into her team’s graceful flights.

“This was really fun because of the long windows and the little triangle ledge,” Huey said. “It’s a beautiful glass building but it has these metal ridges that you can grab and crawl onto which makes it extra fun.

So we’ve really been enjoying adapting our choreography to this place … Every building feels different.”

BANDALOOP performed excerpts of their piece “Field,” which is part of a multi-year project known as “Loom.”

“Loom” explores the ancestral, spiritual and

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ecological impacts of textiles, according to Melecio Estrella, a dancer and the artistic director of BANDALOOP. Its nimble dances demonstrate different themes involving textiles, ranging from the therapeutic action of making cloth, to inherited clothing from our ancestors and even to the detrimental ecological footprint of mass-produced clothing. Estrella hopes to bring awareness to this last issue through BANDALOOP’s performances.

“When we suspend our nylon ropes up and down the building, it becomes a warp like a weaving loom and the dancers weave side to side,” Estrella said, gesturing at the ropes. “We think of that as fabric, ephemeral art fabric that we weave while we dance.”

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ANDREW RODGERS / COLLEGIATE TIMES BANDALOOP show at Moss Arts Center, Sept. 17, 2021.

Accessible artistry: Perspective Gallery brings art to campus community The Perspective Gallery in Squires Student Center aims to promote art in students’ everyday lives through outreach and curated exhibits.

OLIVIA FERRARE lifestyles editor

The Perspective Gallery in Squires offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of college with a calming gallery displaying thought-provoking art. Tucked inside a hallway, the gallery’s glass doors let anyone peek inside and get a glimpse at the curation of pieces. The Perspective Gallery was created to advance patronage of the arts and make art more accessible to students. There are about five exhibits a year, with artists of all walks of life (including students and alumni) getting to showcase their work to the Virginia Tech community.

The current exhibit is called “Stories of West Africa,” by Hollis Chatelain.

According to VT Campus Life, Chatelain’s work details what she saw in her 12 years living in Africa. Each piece is a quilt, using fabric and designs from the area and screen printed photographs. Chatelain colors in and then hand-sews intricate detailing, colors and shadows into the design, bringing a striking photograph to life on the fabric. The exhibit uses traditional crafts to create high art influenced by the beauty of daily life and African fabrics.

Robin Scully, the art program director for the Perspective Gallery, was introduced to

the artist about three years ago. Scully loved how the art wove in activism and was built around the artist’s work in the Peace Corps.

“The pieces are influenced by the community life and beauty,” Scully said.

“They share the beauty of the African lifestyle. I’m drawn to activists that create easily-accessible methods of art and activism.”

Chatelain writes: “The twelve years I lived in Africa have deeply influenced me.

I feel Americans should know more about the joy, harmony, and pride of the African people, rather than only hearing about the suffering and turmoil so commonly depicted in the media. I would like viewers to see my African imagery as a tribute to a people I truly admire and respect.” The exhibit will run until Oct. 17.

After “Stories of West Africa” is the Biennial Student Exhibit, a social commentary on women’s image and social issues present in Carnival, the traditional Brazilian festival signaling the beginning of Lent in the Catholic Church. This exhibit will run from Oct. 26 to Dec. 18, and the artist is Virginia Tech Ph.D. student Leslie Ann C. R. Toney.

Students interested in art and the Perspective Gallery can get involved in a number of ways. Emily Bell, a senior studying clinical neuroscience, worked the

front desk when I stopped in and shared why she loved working at the Perspective Gallery.

Bell helps set up between exhibits, answers questions, maintains the gallery and is an art outreach coordinator for the department.

“My favorite part about working here is getting to be around art all the time and our fun activities outside the gallery too,” Bell said. “On most Mondays, I host a destressing coloring table about the Perspective Gallery from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.”

Over the summer, Bell also hosted a watercolor painting table for kids visiting the Blacksburg Farmers Market on Wednesdays.

“I love working with students,” Scully said. “It’s the most rewarding part, a job that’s allowed me to blend skill sets and perfectly suited for my passion: working in the arts.”

The gallery is a great example of trying to make art more attainable and widespread in college culture. The space is inviting and calming, drawing anyone to pop their head inside and spend some quiet time reflecting on the exhibit. Educating students to become patrons of the arts doesn’t have to be difficult; all one has to do is walk in and learn something from the pieces.

If you are interested in learning more about future exhibits or the space in general,

check out the gallery’s blog or email squiresgallery@vt.edu. @CollegiateTimes

Sagittarius, Sept. 22 The last few weeks have been overwhelming for you. Troubles with friends don’t mean the world is ending. Take a day for yourself and walk along the Huckleberry Trail. Sprint every time you see a cow to release endorphins. If you do not ‘moo’ at the cows, you will not find peace.

Scorpio, Sept. 22 It’s time to take a breather after parents weekend. Celebrate your individuality and independence by grunting loudly while working out in McComas. Make sure to manifest sexy back sweat. Use the same squat rack for an hour. It’s your time to shine.

Editor’s note: These horoscopes are written with satirical intent.

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Sports

September 21, 2021 PAGE 7

ANDREW RODGERS / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Perspective Gallery in Squires Student Center at Virginia Tech. Sept. 18 2021.

VIRGINIA TECH VOLLEYBALL WINS TWO STRAIGHT TO FINISH CHATTANOOGA CLASSIC The Hokies are 9–3 on the season before heading into their ACC schedule on Sept. 24.

GLEN RORIE sports staff writer

Another weekend, another 2–1 finish to an invitation. The Virginia Tech volleyball team traveled down to Chattanooga, Tennessee, for the Chattanooga Classic, where it defeated the Chattanooga Mocs 3–2 and the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles 3–0.

Virginia Tech unfortunately lost to the Troy Trojans, 1–3.

Sept. 10 vs. Troy The Hokies came into the invitation game with a higher record, but did not play like the better team that day. Virginia Tech held leads in the first three sets of the game, even leading 15–10 in both the first and second set. A mixture of errors and poor defense led to its demise in the second set

and, ultimately, the match. The bright spot in Virginia Tech’s loss was Griere Hughes.

Hughes had a double-double: 10 kills and 11 digs. She also led the team in blocks with five.

Sept. 11 vs. Chattanooga After a fairly demoralizing loss, the Hokies picked themselves up and avoided another upsetting loss, scratching out a close 3–2 victory. Virginia Tech did not play up to its usual standard, though. The team’s attacking percentage on the season so far is .207, while the team hit was .153 vs.

Chattanooga. The Hokies hit around this same percentage in the Troy game, .150, and paid for it; however, it was enough to pull a victory against the Mocs, who hit .088 in the game. Both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm until the fourth set. The

Hokies dominated the Mocs, winning 25–14, and the Hokies had a .414 attack percentage to show for it. The Hokies struggled again in the final set, but preserved and pushed to the end where they won 15–11. Mara Perry had her first double-double of the season: 24 assists and 14 digs. Perry led the team in assists as well. Even though hitting percentages were low in this matchup, Angel Robinson managed to hit .375, the highest among both teams.

Sept. 11 vs. Tennessee Tech Virginia Tech left the state of Tennessee on a high note, crushing Tennessee Tech 3–0. It won each one of its sets by 10 or more points. Head coach Marci Byers set her team straight after two lackluster offensive games. The Hokies came in blazing, hitting at .368 for the match, including a strong

hit percentage of .5 in the third set. Tasha Vipond put on a defensive clinic with eight blocks. Vipond is currently the second leading blocker on the Hokies, and this matchup was a reminder as to why. Virginia Tech was the better Tech that day.

With the conclusion of the Chattanooga Classic, Virginia Tech moves to 7–2 on the season. The team will return home to Blacksburg for the final invitation of the season, the Hokie Invite. Virginia Tech will face the George Mason Patriots (2–6) on Friday, Sept. 17, at 12 p.m. and the Wofford Terriers (5–4) at 7 p.m.

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PAGE 8 September 21, 2021

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HOKIES HUMBLED BY MOUNTAINEERS IN MORGANTOWN Virginia Tech loses 21–27, but the game was not as close as the score suggests.

DEVIN SHEPARD sports editor

After a surprising upset win in Week 1 over the then No. 10 UNC Tar Heels, Virginia Tech fans’ hopes were high for this year’s football season. A much less impressive win over Middle Tennessee State in Week 2 tempered expectations and showed some flaws in the Hokie attack, but dreams were still alive for a magical football season. However, those dreams may be coming to an end after Virginia Tech headed to Morgantown to take on unranked West Virginia this Saturday, and lost, 27–21.

In a game that was not nearly as close as the final score would suggest, the Hokies showed weaknesses in almost every aspect of the game. Quarterback Braxton Burmeister, throwing a career high 31 passes, showed he is still an extremely limited passer. The redshirt junior finished with a relatively decent box score (61% completion, 227 yards, two touchdowns), but those numbers don’t tell the full story. Burmeister continuously missed open receivers — including multiple touchdown opportunities — and left clean pockets early to scramble over and over again rather than look downfield for an open man. He also had at least one pass that should have been intercepted in the second half.

Burmeister made a couple big plays on the day, most notably a beautiful jumpball to emerging receiver Tayvion Robinson, but his inconsistency is a big reason why Virginia Tech has only been able to put up totals of 17 and 21 against Power 5 opponents. On top of his troubles as a passer, Burmeister’s impact in the run game — which has been his best asset as a starter — was almost nonexistent outside of a 25-yard run on 3rd and 24 in the 4th quarter. The quarterback’s mobility almost became a detriment throughout the game, as he repeatedly bailed from clean pockets to scramble, inviting unnecessary pressure and sacks, rather than keeping his eyes downfield. If Burmeister can’t bring positive value as a runner or passer, it seems unlikely the Hokies offense can be successful against good opponents.

The loss isn’t all on Burmeister though.

The signal caller wasn’t helped much by his offensive line, which gave up six sacks and

struggled to create running lanes throughout the day. Notably, center Brock Hoffman and right tackle Tyrell Smith struggled with penalty issues, setting the Virginia Tech offense back. Left tackle Luke Tenuta also struggled mightily in handling his matchup with edge rusher Jared Bartlett, who finished with three sacks, three tackles for loss and a forced fumble on the day.

The Hokies’ weapons — who’ve been consistent all season — were a bright spot in the game, with almost everyone making a play, despite the loss of star tight end James Mitchell. Slot receiver Tayvion Robinson was the standout on the day, catching three passes for 47 yards and a touchdown, and getting open for another pass in which he was wide open but Burmeister missed him low. Big-bodied wide receiver Kaleb Smith played very well, catching six passes for 62 yards. Tight end Drake Deluliis made a huge play downfield as well, catching a 39-yard bomb from Burmeister. Virginia Tech’s running back duo of Jalen Holston and Raheem Blackshear was dynamic as well, combining for 151 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on the day.

The Hokie defense was throttled early on, giving up explosive touchdowns on the Mountaineers’ first two drives, an 80-yard run by running back Leddie Brown, and a nice 29-yard connection from West Virginia quarterback Jarret Doege to receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton.

However, the group settled in after that, only surrendering 14 points in the remaining 54 minutes of the contest, a performance capped off by a beautiful interception by cornerback Jermaine Waller, his third pick this season. The Virginia Tech defense, when they limit explosive plays, continues to be the best part of this team.

The Hokies will likely fall in the AP Poll this coming week, and they will look to bounce back against the Richmond Spiders (2–0) at home

next week. They will need to find their bearings before a Week 6 matchup with No. 12 Notre Dame if they want to keep their hopes of winning the ACC Coastal Division alive. If these problems continue to persist against Richmond, Virginia Tech’s chances will be slim against the likes of Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and Virginia later in the year.

@CTSportsTalk

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