Photos by Justin Cook | The Roanoke Times

Virginia Tech's Brittany Cook was the leading scorer in the ACC last season, averaging nearly 18 points per game.

Virginia Tech's Shani Grey (30), Brittany Gordon (23) and Laura Haskins (22) open their season Friday.

BLACKSBURG -- Laura Haskins stomped on the word like it was a cockroach.

"Optimistic? No." she said firmly. "We're confident."

That confidence, oddly enough, comes from all of the could've, should've, would'ves from the Virginia Tech women's basketball team's 15-15 campaign last season.

Those Hokies went 2-12 in the ACC and failed to even get an invite to the WNIT. It was the first time a Tech team had sat at home come dancing season since 1997.

"We're fired up because of last year," said Haskins, Tech's senior point guard, who earned her B.A. in business in three years and is now taking graduate courses. "We were in a lot of our games; it wasn't that far off. It was just a lot of little things."

The Hokies did indeed take No. 4 Maryland to overtime last season on the road before losing by three points and were tied with No. 3 North Carolina at halftime before losing by 20. They also suffered bouts of simply poor play, including a 67-50 loss at Wake Forest.

"We learned from our shortcomings last year, little things like we've got to play 40 minutes," said senior guard Brittany Cook, who was the ACC's leading scorer last season.

"And to take care of the ball," added junior forward Utahya Drye.

Senior Amber Hall, who was not in on the earlier conversation, added one not-so-little thing: Accountability.

"Accountability is huge this year," Hall said. "Each and every one of us has something we can contribute to the team. We're holding each other accountable. That's how you reach your goals."

Tech lost guard Kat Barbour, who averaged 15 points a game but was released from the program this fall after a turbulent one-year stint with the Hokies, and post Eleanor Brentnall from last year's team.

Brentnall averaged 5.2 points and 3.9 rebounds in 27 games last year, but suffered chronic back pain and returned home to Australia rather than continue playing.

Also, senior guard A.J. Lemaitre, who had knee surgery in the offseason, will likely remain on the bench for most of the season and play only in emergencies.

The Hokies are light on traditional post players. Hall started 30 games last year, but she is troubled by chronic back pain made worse by the constant pounding of post play. She said she has to balance the need to take days off for treatment and recovery with the need to practice "because you want to be prepared so you can play."

"But it's my last year, and I want to do what's best for the team and continue to play hard," Hall said.

Sophomore post Brittany Gordon went to the Pete Newell Tall Women's Camp over the summer, a three-day camp where "I got to see a lot of other big girls my height and taller and a whole lot bigger," she said. "I learned a lot of post moves. Even moves where the post can dribble like a guard.

"I don't think I'll try that one yet. I'd like to stay out there for a while."

Freshman Brittany Lewis, coach Beth Dunkenberger said, is still learning "how to play hard all the time like you have to in college.

"But when she brings it, she looks like Amber Hall, but more guard-like. She finishes well."

Sophomore Elizabeth Basham saw limited time in the post last season.

Cook, a 6-foot senior guard, and Drye, a 6-1 junior forward, pointed to the Hokies' versatility in the big guard-small forward area as a strength.

"We have a lot of people who are very versatile," Cook said.

Drye and Cook, who can both play the three or four if needed, put 6-foot guard Shanel Harrison in that category as well.

Dunkenberger took it even further.

"She could literally play 1 through 4," Dunkenberger said. "She's very, very versatile. She's got good instincts. She's a big, strong rebounder, a good pull-up jumper. She's got a great future."

The Hokies will add guard Nikki Davis to the roster in December. Davis transferred to Virginia Tech from Alabama, where she was a sometime starter as a freshman, last year. She had to sit out last spring and must also sit out this fall before regaining her eligibility.

Dunkenberger said she thought Davis, with a year of SEC experience, had an edge over the freshmen in terms of making an immediate impact. Dunkenberger said Davis, who is more offensive-minded than the old-school Haskins, would be able to relieve Haskins some at point guard.

"She's very different than Laura, I think they'll complement each other," Dunkenberger said.

Junior guard Lindsay Biggs was Haskins' main reliever last season, and is also counted on to play the No. 2 guard spot and provide some much-needed outside scoring. Junior guard Lakeisha Logan and redshirt sophomore Shani Grey can also expect time at either guard position.

There will be plenty of challenges for this year's Hokies, who play in the talent-laden ACC and have six teams from the AP preseason Top 25 on their schedule, including two games apiece against No. 15 Virginia and No. 8 Duke.

That idea doesn't dent the optim ... er, confidence, of the Hokies.

"We've played with a lot of the top teams. We know we can play with the top teams," Haskins said. "This is my last time here. We want to get back to the NCAAs. We got there my freshman year.

"It'd be pretty sweet to get back."

Hokies last season

Record: 15-15, 2-12 ACC Postseason: Lost in first round of ACC Tournament.