Box Score FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Senior Mariel Frey
(Litiz, Pa.) and sophomore Kristin
Boyd (Wilmington, N.C.) blasted eight kills apiece,
but 24th-ranked Long Beach State's vaunted offense was
too much for the Rams Friday in a 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-19) loss at
Colorado State's Moby Arena.
The 49ers (7-2) hit .383 for the match, including .472 and
.486 marks in the first two sets. Janisa Johnson of Long Beach led
all players with 16 kills and hit .263. Caitilin Ledoux, an
All-America Honorable Mention pick in 2009, had 15 kills and hit
.407.
VCU junior Courtney
Hott (Fredericksburg, Va.) hit .417 with six kills and
a block for the Rams (1-12), while sophomore libero Marisa
Low (Carlsbad, Calif.) added 10 digs and senior
Kelsie
Clegg (Boise, Idaho) was credited with seven
blocks.
The Rams trailed, 11-4, in the second set before Low stepped to
the service line to key a 7-0 burst. Low had a pair of aces during
the run and kept the 49ers on their heels with her well-placed
serves. However, three kills by Ledoux sparked an 8-2 LBSU run that
pushed the 49ers back out to a 19-14 advantage.
Behind Frey and Boyd, VCU found its rhythm in the third set, when
it stormed to a 12-9 lead. The Rams were clinging to a 14-12
advantage when Long Beach State changed gears. Ledoux, Haleigh
Hampton and Michelle Osunbor each had a kill during a 5-0 burst
that put the 49ers ahead to stay.
VCU hit .202 for the match and out blocked Long Beach State 8-6 on
the day.
The Rams return to the floor on Saturday, Sept. 18 for a pair of
matches at the University of Denver. VCU will take on the host
Pioneers at 1 p.m. (EST) before it meets Middle Tennessee State at
7 p.m.
