Three-time ACC player of the year Elizabeth Kitley will miss the NCAA tournament after tearing her left ACL in the Virginia Tech Hokies' regular-season finale, coach Kenny Brooks told reporters Thursday.
The news marks a devastating blow for the program and Kitley, who returned for her fifth year of eligibility in hopes of taking Virginia Tech back to the Final Four.
"On March 3rd I suffered a knee injury that is keeping me out of this years NCAA tournament," Kitly posted on Instagram. "This is not at all how I anticipated ending this year with my team, but I'm so proud of all of our accomplishments, and I'm excited to see my girls continue to compete. Thank you to all of Hokie Nation for being so supportive during this tough time. I'm looking forward to making a strong comeback."
Kitley -- a 6-foot-6 forward and three-time All-American -- was having a career year for the Hokies, averaging 22.8 points, 11.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks as she catapulted Virginia Tech to its first ACC regular-season crown. Along the way she became the ACC's all-time leader in rebounds and set the conference record for double-doubles.
"[It's been] hard [for Kitley]," said Virginia Tech coach Kenny Brooks. "She's been emotional. I've been emotional. I think we probably text each other probably 30 times a day. She will be good and then she will be sad. The kid has put everything into this and she's the reason we are here. She's the reason we are here... the kid ate, slept, drank basketball, but everything Hokie basketball."
After a bit of a slow start, the Hokies looked poised to make another deep run in March, following up last year's ACC tournament title and program-first Final Four appearance. But now the Hokies will enter March Madness without their program-changing player in Kitley, though they still have star point guard Georgia Amoore to lead the charge.
No. 4 seed Virginia Tech hosts No. 13 seed Marshall Friday in the first round of the NCAA tournament at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN2.