BLACKSBURG, VA. (AP/CVILLE RIGHT NOW) — Virginia Tech spent much of the past week joyous at being selected to host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament for a second consecutive year. Unfortunately for the Hokies, they will be doing so without their best player. Virginia Tech coach Kenny Brooks announced Thursday that Elizabeth Kitley had torn the ACL in her left knee in the Hokies’ regular-season finale March 3 and will miss the tournament.

The Hokies (24-7) open play Friday as a No. 4 seed in the Portland 3 regional against 13th-seeded Marshall (26-6).

They have won 25 consecutive home games, but now, without their 6-foot-6 center, they face a Marshall team that has won 10 consecutive games and is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1997.