Box Score FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Two days after heartbreak in its
home opener, Virginia Commonwealth University hit the road and
nearly turned the tables on Colorado State. Fourteenth-ranked CSU
prevailed, 3-2 (25-16, 22-25, 25-22, 22-25, 15-7), but not before
VCU made it interesting.
Four VCU players notched double-digit kills, including junior
Jessica Ojukwu's 11 in the guttiest
performance by the Rams this season. VCU (1-11) is the first team
to push Colorado State (9-1) to five sets in 2010. CSU's only
loss this year was to third-ranked Florida.
"After our Georgetown loss at home, we knew our team was kind
of at a crossroads," VCU Head Coach James
Finley said. "It was if they were going to continue
to grow and learn or if they're going to get discouraged, and
they showed us that they're ready to win. It was awesome. I
was really proud of them."
On Tuesday, VCU watched a 2-1 lead slip away in a 3-2 loss to
Georgetown at the Verizon Wireless Arena. Thursday night, the Rams
switched from a 5-1 system to a 6-2 configuration and looked like a
completely different team, nearly pulling off the biggest upset in
school history.
VCU trailed 2-1 in the match, but shifted gears and jumped out to a
commanding, 22-14 lead in the fourth set on the way to a 25-22
equalizer. The Black and Gold hit .200 in that frame and held
Colorado State to a match-low .114 hitting percentage.
However, in the tiebreaking fifth set, Colorado State came alive,
hitting .353 behind three kills by Katelyn Steffan. CSU sprang to a
9-4 edge and never looked back on the way to a 15-7 win.
Despite the loss, VCU emerged confident and energized by the
performance.
"I think everybody's got a little bounce in their
step," Finley said. "We'll work on the things
that we need to and hopefully we'll be able to pull off the
upset with Long Beach tomorrow."
VCU senior Kelsie Clegg (Boise, Idaho), had 10
kills and five blocks while playing on her 22nd
birthday. The Rams also received 10 kills each from sophomore
Kristin Boyd (Wilmington, N.C.), who hit .348, and
senior Mariel Frey (Litiz, Pa.). Sophomore
Marisa Low (Carlsbad, Calif.) led all players with
17 digs.
Middle blocker Megan Plourde sparked Colorado State with 12 kills
and nine blocks while hitting .579. Danielle Minch led all players
with 16 kills.
VCU returns to the court on Friday, Sept. 17 when it meets
24th-ranked Long Beach State at Moby Arena at 2 p.m.
Eastern Standard Time.
