Atlantic 10 Conference Championship – Semifinals
Score: #2 VCU 3, #3 Rhode Island 0 (25-17, 25-15, 25-19)
Location: Dayton, Ohio (Frericks Center)
Records: VCU 13-4, Rhode Island 7-8
 
The short story: VCU is headed to the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship Match for the fourth straight year. The Black and Gold hit .378 dominated nearly every facet of Friday's semifinal match against Rhode Island on the way to victory.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Senior outside hitter Paula Neciporuka, named All-Atlantic 10 First Team on Thursday, provided nine kills, while hitting .643 with 14 digs Friday to pace the VCU offense. She did not commit a hitting error in 14 attempts
• Freshman middle Jasmine Knight and sophomore outside hitter Qairo Bentley supplied 11 kills each for VCU. Knight added seven blocks, while Bentley hit .476 with seven digs
• Freshman setter Corinna Jones kept the offense humming with 34 assists for the Black and Gold, while sophomore middle Sabria Cooper added six kills and five blocks
• Gabrielle Shilling led Rhode Island with nine kills

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU committed just six hitting errors in the match and outhit Rhode Island .378 to .143
• The Black and Gold outblocked Rhody 9-1, and dug 49 balls compared to URI's 41
• VCU hit .214 in the first set, .344 in the second and .567 in the third. The Black and Gold recorded 17 kills and no hitting errors on 30 attempts in the third frame

NOTABLE

• VCU will advance to the A-10 title match for the fourth straight year. The Black and Gold captured the league's 2017 tournament crown
• VCU has defeated Rhode Island seven straight times. The Black and Gold have lost one set to Rhody during that stretch

NEXT UP
VCU will face the winner of Friday's other semifinal, Dayton and Fordham, on Saturday, April 3 at noon. ESPN+ will broadcast that match.