Coppin State Volleyball Battles Virginia Tech Before Falling in Four Sets
By Maryland Sports Blog Staff
Coppin State volleyball showed it could compete with an ACC opponent Saturday afternoon, but Virginia Tech eventually used its size and efficiency at the net to pull away for a four-set victory at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The Hokies defeated the Eagles, 3-1, taking the match 25-21, 20-25, 25-16 and 25-21. The loss dropped Coppin State to 1-2 to close the season-opening Hokie Invitational, while Virginia Tech improved to 2-1.
Despite the final score, Coppin State had some encouraging moments against its Power Four opponent. The Eagles responded after dropping the opening set by taking the second and remained within striking distance during much of the fourth.
Eagles Respond in Second Set
Virginia Tech grabbed the opening set, 25-21, after breaking away from a 20-20 tie late in the frame. The Hokies scored five of the final six points, using their blocking game to take control.
Coppin State did not allow the first-set loss to carry over.
The Eagles answered with one of their strongest stretches of the afternoon, winning the second set, 25-20. The frame featured six ties and five lead changes before Coppin State created separation late and evened the match at one set apiece.
It was an important response for a Coppin State program entering the season with high expectations. The Eagles were selected to win the MEAC in the conference’s preseason poll after winning two conference championships over the previous three seasons.
Virginia Tech, however, took control at the net following the intermission.
Hokies Take Control
The third set proved to be the turning point.
Virginia Tech put together a 5-0 run to create separation before finishing the set on another 3-0 run for a 25-16 victory. The Hokies produced six team blocks in the third set alone as Coppin State struggled to consistently get its offense through Virginia Tech’s front line.
Coppin State fought back in the fourth.
The Eagles stayed within range, but Virginia Tech ultimately closed out the match with a 25-21 victory.
Virginia Tech finished with a .268 hitting percentage while holding Coppin State to .086. The Hokies also recorded 59 kills compared with 36 for the Eagles and held a significant 14-6 advantage in team blocks.
Coppin State did have an advantage in several other areas. The Eagles outserved Virginia Tech with six aces to one and finished with a 60-54 advantage in digs.
Walker Leads Coppin State Attack
Deviana Walker led the Eagles offensively with 10 kills. Freshman Nia Curry added eight kills, while Cherisse Atilano finished with seven. Pamela De Jesus Tejedor contributed another six kills.
Coco Figueroa continued to anchor Coppin State’s back row.
The reigning MEAC Defensive Player of the Year recorded a match-high 20 digs. Karina Diaz added 11 digs, while Eva Rovello came close to a double-double with 27 assists and nine digs. Rovello also served two of Coppin State’s six aces.
Kayden Cupid led the Eagles at the net with four blocks.
Virginia Tech received 17 kills and 10 digs from Destiny Walker, while Adeline Hundl produced a career-high 13 kills and five blocks. Layla Moore finished with six blocks as the Hokies’ size at the net became one of the defining factors in the match.
A Valuable Opening Weekend for Coppin State
The Eagles leave Blacksburg with a 1-2 record, but the opening weekend gave head coach Tim Walsh’s team an immediate opportunity to test itself against quality competition.
Coppin State opened the season Friday with a four-set victory over William & Mary before playing Kent State later that afternoon. The Eagles pushed Kent State all the way to five sets before falling. Against the Golden Flashes, Atilano recorded 13 kills, De Jesus Tejedor had 12 and Figueroa finished with 17 digs.
Less than 24 hours later, Coppin State went toe-to-toe with an ACC program and took a set from Virginia Tech on its home floor.
That is meaningful considering where the Eagles hope to be in November.
Coppin State was picked to win the MEAC after receiving more than half of the first-place votes in the conference preseason poll. Figueroa was selected as the MEAC Preseason Player of the Year, while Atilano and Cupid joined her on the Preseason All-MEAC Team.
Walsh is now in his 10th season leading the program. Entering the weekend, Coppin State had gone 89-44 overall since 2022 and an impressive 49-7 in MEAC competition during that span.
The goal will ultimately be another conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance, and playing teams such as Virginia Tech early in the season should help prepare the Eagles for that pursuit.
Coppin State Heads to Annapolis
The road-heavy opening portion of Coppin State’s schedule continues next weekend with another tournament in Maryland.
The Eagles will compete in Navy’s Kristen Dickmann Invitational in Annapolis on Sept. 4-5. Coppin State opens against Navy at 6 p.m. Friday before facing Penn at 11 a.m. and Stony Brook at 7 p.m. Saturday. The Navy match is scheduled to stream on ESPN+.
Coppin State will not play its home opener at the Physical Education Complex Arena until Sept. 29 against Loyola Maryland. The demanding early schedule also includes tournaments at Akron and UConn before MEAC competition begins Sept. 24 at Howard.
MSB Take
The 1-2 record does not tell the entire story of Coppin State’s opening weekend.
The Eagles beat William & Mary, took Kent State to five sets and then won a set against Virginia Tech on the Hokies’ home court. That is a challenging way to begin a season, particularly for a team that knows the most important matches will come later in MEAC play.
Coppin State’s defense already looks like it can be a strength. Figueroa remains one of the conference’s premier defensive players, and the Eagles actually finished Saturday with more digs and service aces than Virginia Tech.
The biggest difference was at the net. Virginia Tech’s 14-6 blocking advantage and .268-.086 edge in hitting percentage were simply too much to overcome.
For Coppin State, these early tournaments are about figuring out rotations, developing the newcomers and preparing for another championship run. There is plenty to clean up, but there were also enough positives in Blacksburg to believe the Eagles remain a serious contender to win the MEAC.
