JMU Invitational
Score: VCU 3, Illinois State 1 (25-21, 25-16, 22-25, 25-18)
Location: Harrisonburg, Va. (Sinclair Gymnasium)
Records: VCU 1-0, Illinois State 0-1
 
The short story: Middle blockers Sabria Cooper and Kylie Loftis combined for 19 kills and eight blocks to spur VCU to a season-opening win over Illinois State Friday at the JMU Invitational.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Cooper led all Rams with 12 kills, and the junior from Oklahoma City hit .375 on 24 swings. She added three blocks and four digs
• Loftis, a sophomore, added seven kills, as well as a team-best five blocks
• Sophomore middle Jasmine Knight, who is just months removed from a decorated freshman season in the spring, provided nine kills and four blocks to the VCU cause, while junior outside hitter Qairo Bentley chipped in with nine kills and 10 digs
• Freshman Crew Hoffmeier bolstered the VCU back row with 14 digs in her Rams debut
• Tamara Otene led all players with 18 kills for Illinois State 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• VCU hit .283 in the match on the way to victory. The Rams hit .314 and .429 in the first and second sets, respectively, on the way to a 2-0 lead in the match
• The Rams held the Redbirds to a .189 hitting percentage on the day, including .088 in the decisive fourth set
• Bentley helped push VCU to an 18-13 lead in the fourth when she supplied two kills and an ace during a 6-1 run. Rams Rams never looked back. 

NOTABLE

• VCU Head Coach Jody Rogers logged her 163^rd victory with the Rams Friday. She needs seven more to become the program's all-time leader
• VCU's meeting with Illinois State was its first against the Redbirds since 2013, when the Rams claimed a 3-1 win at the IUPUI Invitational in Indianapolis, Ind.

NEXT UP
The Rams will take on in-state rival and tournament host James Madison at noon on Saturday. It will be the first of two meetings between VCU and JMU this season