Score: Saint Louis 3, VCU 2 (25-18, 25-16, 20-25, 20-25, 15-13)
Location: Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 6-9 (2-1 Atlantic 10), Saint Louis 9-6 (2-0)
 
The short story: Junior middle blocker Sabria Cooper blasted 12 kills, and sophomore middle Jasmine Knight piled up double-digit blocks to lead a furious VCU rally, but Saint Louis held on for a five-set win Sunday at the Siegel Center.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Cooper hit .385 on 26 swings in the match and added a pair of blocks
• Knight was a force with a season-high 11 blocks for the Rams. She supplied five in the third set and four in the fifth as VCU mounted its comeback. Knight added six kills on the offensive end
• Junior outside hitter Qairo Bentley recorded 10 of her team-high 14 kills in the final three sets for VCU
• Rams' senior libero Alyna Draper led the Rams defensively with 14 digs in the contest, while senior setter Dani Jo David doled out 31 assists in the match

THE DIFFERENCE

• The Rams jumped out to a 5-1 lead to begin the fifth, but Saint Louis would not go away quietly. The Billikens tied the set at 12-all and watched as Maya Taylor spiked kills for a 13-12 lead and later at match point. Taylor finished with a match-high 25 kills and nine digs for Saint Louis
• The Billikens hit .385 in the fifth set
• VCU fell behind 2-0 in the match as the Billikens hit .333 and .364 in the first and second sets, respectively
• The Rams worked their way back into the match defensively. VCU held Saint Louis to an. 085 hitting percentage in the third set, backed by 20 digs and five blocks, on the way to a 25-20 win. The Rams hit .343 in the fourth to score another 25-20 victory and level the match at 2-2

NEXT UP
VCU will host George Mason on Friday, Oct. 1 at the Siegel Center