Prior to Friday's game against Miami, Virginia Tech's first game in the ACC Tournament, coach Kenny Brooks said on the Virginia Tech Sports Network's pregame show that center Elizabeth Kitley, who injured her left foot during the Hokies' season, will be playing in the ACC Tournament. He said he would not participate. -We lost in the final game against Virginia last weekend.
Kitley will be re-evaluated after the conference tournament. He won the ACC Player of the Year Award three times. The Athletic Among first-team All-Americans, 11th-ranked Virginia Tech (23-6, 14-4 ACC) averaged 23 points and 11 rebounds per game this season.
Last Sunday, Kitley suffered what appeared to be a non-contact left knee injury in the third quarter of a loss and returned to the locker room with his trainer. She returned later that quarter and walked to the bench without assistance. However, after the game, Brooks was visibly shaken.
“I don't know about Kitley's situation. To be honest, that's how I feel,” he said after the game. “I can't give you anything just out of respect for her.”
Kitley led the Hokies to the program's first Final Four last season, opting in for the COVID-19 season and returning to Blacksburg for a fifth year. Kitley and point guard Georgia Amoore anchor both ends of the floor for Virginia Tech. This great duo helped Virginia Tech win its first ACC tournament title in 2023 and its first ACC regular season title in 2024.
In Kitley's absence, freshman Clara Stack made her first career start. The 6-5 center is averaging three points and four rebounds in 12 minutes per game for the Hokies this season.
The Hokies were expected to be the No. 2 seed. The Athletic's latest NCAA Tournament bracket predictions.
This story will be updated.
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(Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
