Atlantic 10 Conference Semifinals
Score: #6 Fordham 3, #2 VCU 1 (25-23, 20-25, 25-21, 25-23)
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. UPMC Cooper Field House)
Records: VCU 18-12, Fordham 10-19
 
The short story: Freshman Kialah Jefferson led VCU with 14 kills, but VCU couldn't hold off a hot Fordham club in Atlantic 10 Conference semifinal action Saturday in Pittsburgh, Pa.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Jefferson added 14 digs, three blocks and an ace for the Black and Gold
• Graduate outside hitter Jovana Vukcevic added 12 kills and 12 digs for VCU, while senior libero Alyna Draper provided 20 digs and a pair of service aces
• Sophomore middle blocker Kylie Loftis also supplied 10 blocks, including three solos to the VCU effort
• Isabel Fichtel and Bella Urena led Fordham with 13 kills each 

THE DIFFERENCE

• In a match that was nearly even statistically, it was Fordham's timeliness at critical points that swung the match in its favor. VCU led the first set 23-22, but watched as Aria De La Rosa and Fichtel sandwiched kills around a VCU error to claim a 25-23 win
• VCU looked poised to force a tiebreaker when it scored three straight to move ahead 23-22 in the fourth, but Urena answered with back-to-back kills, and Ryan Naumann served up an ace to give Fordham the win

NOTABLE

• VCU owned a 13-6 advantage in blocks and outhit Fordham .188 to .158
• Both teams were credited with 83 digs

NEXT UP
VCU's season is complete