Four Points Tallahassee Seminole Invitational
Score (Match #1): VCU 3, Tulane 2 (23-25, 18-25, 25-21, 25-23, 15-9)
Score (Match #2): VCU 3, Samford 0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-23)
Location: Tallahassee, Fla. (Tully Gymnasium)
Records: VCU 4-1, Tulane 3-1, Samford 0-3
 
The short story: Outside hitters Qairo Bentley and Kialah Jefferson each enjoyed big Thursdays as VCU scored a pair of wins, including one via stunning comeback, on the first day of the Seminole Invitational.
 
MATCH #1: VCU 3, TULANE 2
Opening Volley

• Bentley supplied 17 kills and 13 digs, as well as three service aces, as the Rams stormed back from a 2-0 deficit for a thrilling victory
• Jefferson, a freshman, added a season-high 16 kills, 13 digs and three aces of her own for the Black & Gold
• Sophomore middle blocker Kylie Loftis hit .524 on 21 swings and did not commit an error for VCU, while classmate Jasmine Knight, also a middle blocker, contributed nine kills and three blocks
• Michelle Urquart led the Green Wave with 15 kills and 16 digs

The Difference

• VCU hit .288 in the match, including .294 in the third and .474 in the fifth, to fuel its comeback. The Rams did not commit and error in nine attempts in the tiebreaker
• Bentley spiked a kill and registered a block to spark a 7-2 VCU run to open the fifth. A short time later, Knight and Jefferson sandwiched kills around a Tulane ball handling error to give the Rams an 11-6 margin. The Rams would eventually extend that advantage to 14-7
• VCU forced the tiebreak when a solo block by Knight and a kill by Jefferson on consecutive plays in the fourth set clinched a 25-23 win
• The Rams weathered eight ties in the third and scored five of the set's final six points to take a 25-21 decision. Loftis earned the kill on three of those points.

MATCH #2: VCU 3, SAMFORD 0
Opening Volley

• Four Rams recorded nine kills, including Jefferson, who also served up four aces. She hit .375
• Bentley, Knight and Loftis all supplied nine kills and hit .450, .438 and .438, respectively, for VCU
• Senior Dani Jo David and sophomore Corinna Jones combined for 38 assists and kept VCU's offense clicking
• Kenya McQuirter led all players with 14 kills for Samford

The Difference

• VCU hit .391 in the match, including .467 in the first and .538 in the second. The Rams were charged with just four hitting errors in those two frames
• The Rams owned advantages in nearly every statistical category, including digs (32-27), blocks (5-3) and service aces (7-4)

NOTABLE
Rams' Head Coach Jody Rogers picked up her 165^th and 166^th wins at VCU Thursday, moving her within four of the program's career mark.
 
NEXT UP
VCU will meet host Florida State on Friday, Sept. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at Tully Gymnasium. That contest will air on ACC Network Extra.