Score: VCU 3, La Salle 1 (30-28, 25-19, 26-28, 25-20)
Location: Richmond, Va. (E.J. Wade Arena at the Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 6-7 (1-0 A-10), La Salle 7-7 (0-1 A-10)

The short story: Junior opposite Gina Tuzzolo led VCU with 15 kills, while classmate Vicky Giommarini provided an all-around outstanding performance for VCU in its Atlantic 10 Conference opener.

OPENING VOLLEY

• Tuzzolo racked up six of her 15 kills in the second set alone. She hit .265 on the night and added three blocks
• Giommarini supplied 13 kills and committed just two errors in 37 swings. She also served up five aces and dug nine balls
• Junior middle blocker Jasmin Sneed spiked 10 kills and was party to eight blocks for the Black and Gold
• Freshman Alyna Draper, starting at libero for the Rams for the second straight match, collected 17 digs
• Madison Kuch led all players with 20 kills for La Salle

THE DIFFERENCE

• The first set was a battle and featured 15 ties and five lead changes. The teams were within one point of each other from the time La Salle pulled within 20-19 until VCU finally clinched the set 30-28 following a flubbed pass by the Explorers. Sneed kept the Rams afloat with six kills and three blocks in the frame.
• VCU hit .233 in the match, while La Salle hit .188. The Rams held the Explorers to a .071 hitting mark in the fourth and deciding set
• The Rams outblocked La Salle 12-8

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Rams have won 18 consecutive matches against A-10 opponents
• VCU improved to 13-0 all-time against La Salle
• Sneed has recorded eight or more blocks in a match three times this season
• Giommarini's five aces are the most by a Ram since she served up six on Sept. 1, 2017 at Toledo

NEXT UP

VCU will host Duquesne at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 23 at the E.J. Wade Arena.