Score: Davidson 3, VCU 2 (25-21, 16-25, 25-15, 20-25, 18-16)
Location: Davidson, N.C. (Belk Arena)
Records: VCU 8-9 (3-2 Atlantic 10), Davidson 11-4 (5-0)
 
The short story: Senior Qairo Bentley and junior Jasmine Knight combined for 34 kills, but Davidson outlasted VCU in a five-set thriller Tuesday night at Belk Arena.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Bentley blasted 19 kills and registered a career-high 27 digs to pace the Rams. Knight hit .355 with 15 kills on 31 swings. She added two blocks
• Junior middle blocker Sarah Stratton supplied five blocks, including four solos, to bolster VCU defensively. She added four kills and three aces
• Sophomore setter Corinna Jones handed out 41 assists, dug 16 balls and served up a pair of aces for the Black and Gold
• Isabel Decker led the Wildcats with 13 kills, while Anela Davis hit .312 with seven kills and five blocks 

THE DIFFERENCE

• Back-to-back kills by Bentley pushed VCU to set point (16-15) in the tiebreaker, but Davidson would not be denied. The Wildcats responded with consecutive kills by Sola Omonije and Jackie Bardin to retake the lead, and a VCU attack on the final play sailed long
• Davidson hit .310 in the fifth set and committed just three errors
• VCU forced the tiebreaker with a 25-20 victory in the fourth. Knight spiked three straight kills to spearhead a 9-2 blitz to close out the frame
• The two teams were virtually even in the box score. VCU hit .147, while Davidson recorded a .144 mark. The Rams owned a slight advantage in digs, and each team recorded nine blocks

NOTABLE

• VCU is 3-3 in five-set matches this season
• Stratton's 27 aces through 17 matches this season are the most by a Ram since the 2019 campaign

NEXT UP
VCU will head to the Bronx, N.Y. for a pair of matches at Fordham Oct. 7-8. Friday's match kicks off at 6 p.m.