Score: Dayton 3, VCU 1 (25-21, 25-11, 22-25, 25-19)
Location: Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 9-11 (4-4 Atlantic 10), Dayton 12-9 (6-2)
 
The short story: Junior middle blocker Sarah Stratton chalked up seven kills and six blocks to pace VCU, which fell in four sets to Dayton Friday afternoon.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Stratton hit .400 in the match for the Rams on 15 attempts. She committed just one error
• Senior outside hitter Qairo Bentley supplied 11 kills and four blocks, including a pair of solos, for the Black and Gold. She hit .243 and also provided six digs
• Additionally, sophomore setter Taylor Aguano handed out 28 assists and also provided seven digs and three blocks for VCU
• Lexie Almodvar led Dayton with 17 kills and 15 digs 

THE DIFFERENCE

• Dayton outhit VCU .178 to .094 and owned a 66-58 advantage in digs. The Flyers also served up 11 aces
• The Flyers held off VCU 25-21 in a hotly contested opening set, but took command with a dominant effort in the second frame. Dayton hit an unremarkable .172 in the second, but turned up the intensity on defense, holding VCU to a -.200 mark. The Rams were plagued by nine hitting errors in the set and fell behind 19-9
• Bentley recorded a block and a kill as VCU used a 4-0 burst late in the third set to take a 20-17 lead on the way to a 25-22 victory. But Dayton closed the door in the fourth, storming to a 16-8 lead on the way to a 25-19 win

NOTABLE

• VCU outblocked the Flyers 11-8
• Stratton recorded four blocks in the fourth set alone
• Bentley has registered at least 15 points in nine of her past 10 matches

NEXT UP
VCU and Dayton will square off again on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Siegel Center. Fans can watch that contest on ESPN+.