JMU Invitational
Score: High Point 3, VCU 1 (19-25, 25-23, 25-17, 25-20)
Location: Harrisonburg, Va. (Sinclair Gymnasium)
Records: VCU 2-1, High Point 2-1
 
The short story: Junior outside hitter Qairo Bentley blasted a career-high 22 kills, but VCU was unable to hold off High Point in its weekend finale at the JMU Invitational.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Bentley hit .354 on the day in 48 attempts and added 13 digs and five blocks for the Rams
• Junior middle blocker Sabria Cooper added eight kills, six digs and four blocks to the VCU cause, while sophomore middles Kylie Loftis and Jasmine Knight kicked in five blocks each
• Freshman libero Crew Hoffmeier added a team-best 12 digs from the back row for the Black and Gold
• Sydney Pallazzolo led four High Point players with double-digit kills with 21 

THE DIFFERENCE

• High Point shook off 11 VCU blocks and hit .265 on the day. VCU held the Panthers to a .140 mark in the first set, then watched as High Point hit .315 the rest of the way, including .379 in the match-clinching fourth frame
• High Point owned a 76-61 advantage in digs
• VCU looked to claw its way back into the match with a 4-0 burst that tied the fourth set at 14-all. But High Point, led by a pair of Palazzolo kills, embarked on 9-3 blitz that supplied the Panthers with a 23-17 lead
• Bentley provided six kills and three blocks as the Rams opened with an efficient, 25-19 win in the opening set

NEXT UP

• VCU will head to Tallahassee, Fla. Sept. 2-3 for the Four Points Tallahassee Seminole Volleyball Invitational. The Rams will meet Tulane and Samford on Thursday, Sept. 2 before taking on host Florida State on Friday.