Thunderdome Classic
Score: Washington State 3, VCU 0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-21)
Location: Santa Barbara, Calif. (The Thunderdome)
Records: VCU 4-8, Washington State 5-4
 
The short story: Sophomore middle blocker Jasmine Knight hit .500 and was part of a trio of VCU players who recorded six kills each in a 3-0 loss to Washington Saturday at the Thunderdome Classic.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Knight committed just one error in 10 swings and added two blocks for the Black and Gold
• Juniors Qairo Bentley and Sabria Cooper also provided six kills a piece for the VCU attack. Bentley added nine digs, while Cooper was credited with a pair of blocks
• Senior libero Alyna Draper dig 11 balls from the back row for VCU
• Pia Timmer paced the Cougars with 13 kills and 10 digs

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU fell behind 11-1 in the opening set and was forced to fight an uphill battle the rest of the afternoon
• The Rams were held to a .078 hitting percentage, while Washington State registered a .252 mark
• The Cougars also owned a 46-39 edge in digs and an 8-6 advantage in blocks
• The Rams looked to get themselves back into the match in the third. VCU pushed to an 8-5 lead off kills by freshman Parker Hartzell and Cooper, but watched as the Cougars ripped off the next five points. Washington State would not relinquish the lead. The Rams did even the frame at 16-all on three straight kills by Hartzell, Knight and Bentley, but it wasn't enough. Washington State promptly embarked on a 7-3 run to put the set away

NEXT UP
VCU will open Atlantic 10 Conference play on Friday, Sept. 24 when it hosts Fordham at the Stuart C. Siegel Center at 5 p.m.