Score: VCU 3, Saint Louis 0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-23)
Location: St. Louis, Mo. (Chaifetz Pavilion)
Records: VCU 11-3 (6-2 A-10), Saint Louis 7-8 (6-2)
 
The short story: Senior outside hitter Paula Neciporuka supplied a team-high 12 kills and 16 digs to lead VCU to a sweep of Saint Louis Friday.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Neciporuka also provided a pair of blocks and an ace to the VCU effort
• Sophomore outside hitter Qairo Bentley hit .300 and turned in an 11-kill, 11-dig performance for the Rams
• In all, three VCU players registered double-digit digs, including junior libero Alyna Draper, who kicked in 12
• Freshman middle blocker Jasmine Knight recorded four blocks for the Black and Gold
• Maya Taylor led all players with 16 kills for Saint Louis 

THE DIFFERENCE

• The first set featured eight ties and six lead changes, but VCU pushed ahead when back-to-back blocks, first by Neciporuka, then by Knight and redshirt freshman Kaelyn O'Brien, highlighted a 4-0 burst that handed the Rams a 21-16 advantage. The Billikens edged within 24-22, but sophomore middle Sabria Cooper clinched the frame with a kill from junior setter Dani Jo David
• The second set hinged on a back-breaking 7-2 VCU run, punctuated by a Neciporuka kill, that turned an 18-16 deficit into a 23-19 Rams' lead
• VCU held the Billikens to a .142 hitting percentage on the night. Saint Louis failed to hit .100 in either of the first two sets

NOTABLE

• VCU's win pulled the Rams into tie with Saint Louis for second place in the Atlantic 10 Conference West Division
• The Rams have defeated Saint Louis in seven straight meetings, a streak that stretches back to 2017
• VCU has won three straight matches, all via sweep

NEXT UP
VCU and Saint Louis will meet again on Saturday, March 20 at 1 p.m. in St. Louis.