Score: VCU 3, Maryland-Eastern Shore 1 (25-19, 18-25, 25-17, 27-25)
Location: Richmond, Va. (E.J. Wade Arena at the Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Score: VCU 17-2, Maryland-Eastern Shore 14-6

The short story: Vicky Giommarini recorded 19 kills as VCU withstood a plucky Maryland-Eastern Shore squad on the way to a 14^th consecutive victory Tuesday night at the Siegel Center.

OPENING VOLLEY

• Giommarini was one of three Rams to spike double-digit kills. She hit .341 on the night and added 11 digs and four aces.
• Reigning Atlantic 10 Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Week Rebekah Strange booked 32 digs (an average of 8.0 per set) on the back row. She also fired a pair of aces.
• Senior Alica Kandler and sophomore Gina Tuzzolo fired 11 kills apiece for VCU.
• Defensively, sophomore middle Jasmin Sneed logged eight blocks.
• Iva Vujosevic led the Hawks with 14 kills.

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU faced set point in the fourth, down 24-21. However, back-to-back kills by Tuzzolo, followed by an ace from Strange – a well-placed ball that dove in front of the Hawks' back row – tied the set at 24-all. A short time later, Sneed was party to consecutive blocks that gave the Rams the set, 27-25, and the match.
• The service line proved decisive. VCU served up 10 aces, while Maryland-Eastern Shore produced just three. The Hawks also committed 13 service errors.
• VCU responded from its loss in the second set by hitting .333 and .238 in the third and fourth, respectively.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• The Rams improved to 7-0 at home this season.
• Tuesday's performance was Strange's third match this season and fourth of her career with at least 30 digs.
• Strange also served up her 100^th career ace in Tuesday's win.

NEXT UP
VCU will return to conference play on Friday, Oct. 6 when it hosts Duquesne at 7 p.m. at the Siegel Center.