Sep 23, 2018
Score: VCU 3, Duquesne 1 (25-22, 24-26, 25-21, 25-23)
Location: Richmond, Va. (E.J. Wade Arena at the Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 7-7 (2-0 Atlantic 10), Duquesne 5-9 (0-2)
The short story: VCU extended its win streak over Atlantic 10 opponents to 19 matches behind a balanced attack that saw five players record double-digit kills.
FIRST SERVE
- Junior Vicky Giommarini led the Rams with 13 kill, 13 digs and three blocks
- Junior middle blocker Jasmin Sneed supplied 11 kills, including six in the first set, as well as eight blocks, while hitting .360 for the Black and Gold
- Junior opposite Gina Tuzzolo added 11 kills and hit .375, while seniors Tori Baldwin and Julia Adler contributed 10 each. Adler also collected six blocks
- Junior setters Dajah Ard (27) and Tyler Sroufe (22) combined for 49 assists to spark a VCU offense which hit .232
- Camryn Thomas recorded 12 kills and hit .417 for Duquesne
THE DIFFERENCE
- VCU blocking provided critical again Sunday. The Rams outblocked the Dukes 13.5-7.0
- Duquesne hit .146, including .022 in the fourth set as VCU clinched the match
- The Dukes threatened to force a fifth set tiebreaker when they rallied to tie the fourth 23-23, but Tuzzolo spiked a kill on the ensuing play and junior Madalon Simpson followed with a knuckleball serve that a Duquesne defender could not handle
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- All four sets were decided by four points or less. The opening two frames featured a combined 17 ties and eight lead changes
- VCU has not lost a match to an A-10 opponent since November of 2016
NEXT UP
VCU will head to conference-foe Saint Louis on Friday, Sept. 28. That match is slated to begin at 7 p.m., EST.
