Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech lacrosse announced the addition of six student-athletes into its program ahead of the 2024-25 season on Tuesday
Jody Chu
Canisius
Chantilly, Va.
Freedom High School
Chu joins the Hokies following two seasons at Canisus, in which she started 33 games for the Griffins. In her rookie campaign, the Virginia native established herself as a starter and earned All-MAAC Rookie Team recognition.
Earning seven wins in 2023, along with amassing a team-high 40 ground balls (ranking 20th nationally in ground balls per game), Chu twice was named MAAC Defensive Player of the Week and three times the MAAC Rookie of the Week. Starting all 18 games for Canisius in 2024, Chu led her squad to 11 wins (the most since 2019). She posted a goals against average of 9.95, the third-lowest for a single season in program history and was named MAAC Defensive Player of the Week for the third time in her career on Feb. 12.
The daughter of Phu and Bernice, Chu plans to study Economics at Virginia Tech. While at Canisius, she was named to the 2024 MAAC All-Academic Team.
Caroline Doffermyre
Mercer
Charlotte, N.C.
Providence Day School
Doffermyre comes to Blacksburg following a two-year stint at Mercer, which included two NCAA Tournament appearances and Big South championships. The Charlotte, N.C. native made two starts and 13 appearances in her two seasons with the Bears.
Prior to her collegiate career, Doffermyre was an All-Conference and All-State performer for Providence Day School, also claiming two state titles in track.
A Big South Presidential Honor Roll and Commissioners Award (for 4.0 GPA) award recipient, Doffermyre intends to study Criminology at Tech. The daughter of Jamie and Christine, she has a twin sister, Cassidy, and two other siblings: John and Cydney.
Kate Elam
George Mason
St. Anne’s Belfield School
Elam, Va.
Elam joins Virginia Tech after stops at Pitt and George Mason, having played in 38 games in her career with nine starts.
In her redshirt freshman season in Pittsburgh, Pa., Elam finished third on team in goals (25) and fourth in points (32). The Virginia native’s 2022 campaign was highlighted by a four-goal performance at No. 7 Duke on March 10.
Despite only appearing in 11 games in her 2023 season with George Mason, Elam finished second on the team in goals (24) and points (29). In 2024, she was sitting on seven assists through five games before suffering an injury that sidelined her for the remainder of the season.
Having been named to the A-10 Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll in 2022-23, Elam was named the Peter N. Stearns Provost Scholar Athlete in 2024 and intends to study Political Science at Virginia Tech. The daughter of Harry and Elizabeth, Elam has three siblings: Virginia, Wyatt and Olivia.
Evan Johnston
Syracuse
Dallas, Texas
Hockaday School
Johnston arrives in Blacksburg with three years of playing experience at Syracuse, which included 19 appearances for the Orange. In her four seasons, she was a part of four NCAA Tournament teams, all of which progressed to at least the quarterfinals, along with the program’s first outright ACC regular season championship in 2024.
A native of Dallas, Texas, Johnston attended the Hockaday School and was a 2018 state champion, along with a 2019 All-State performer.
A two-time ACC Honor Roll and four-time Athletic Director’s Honor Roll honoree, Johnston graduated with a degree in Sport Management from Syracuse and will attend the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences to earn her Master’s at Tech. The daughter of Daryl and Diane, she has one sibling, Aidan.
Aaliyah Jones
Stony Brook
Austin, Texas
St. Michaels Catholic Academy
Jones joins the Hokies with 23 career games played, including seven starts, and an 8-0 career record through three years at Stony Brook.
In a breakthrough 2024 campaign for the Seawolves, which included a CAA championship and NCAA Tournament second round appearance, Jones started seven games in cage. The Austin, Texas native started for Stony Brook in its two-game run to claim the CAA title. Jones recorded a career high seven saves in over 61 minutes of action in an 11-10 OT thriller over No. 19 Stanford, as well.
As a four-year letterwinner at St. Michael’s Catholic Academy, Jones was named a 2019 US Lacrosse All-American, along with a 2020 Adrenaline All-American. The two-time All-State honoree in lacrosse also earned All-State honors in basketball.
Jones intends to study either Public Health or Translational Biology Medicine & Health at Virginia Tech. The daughter of Joy, Jones has two brothers, Josh and Malik.
Emma Rowland
Old Dominion
Havertown, Penn.
Haverford High School
Rowland comes to Tech following a 21-goal sophomore campaign, which saw her transition into a more attacking-minded role after starting 14 games in her freshman season on the defensive end.
Against Virginia Tech on April 10, 2024, Rowland scored a career high four goals, which she would match 10 days later against ECU. The Pennsylvania native ended her season with a five-game scoring streak, including multiples goals against Tech, ECU, James Madison and Temple.
At Haverford High, Rowland was a two-time first team All-Central selection and two-time All-Delco honoree. She accumulated 100+ goals and 100+ assists just two and a half seasons through high school, while also earning varsity letters in basketball and tennis.
A two-time AAC All-Academic Team selection that holds a 4.0 GPA, Rowland intends to study Criminology at Virginia Tech. She’s the daughter of Pamela and Sean, and has two siblings, Abbey and Shane.