Score: VCU 3, Fordham 2 (19-25, 25-27, 25-22, 25-23, 15-12)
Location: Bronx, N.Y. (Rose Hill Gymnasium)
Records: VCU 9-10 (4-3 Atlantic 10), Fordham 8-10 (2-5)
 
The short story: Senior outside hitter Qairo Bentley and junior middle blocker Jasmine Knight enjoyed monster nights as VCU rallied back from the brink of defeat on the way to a thrilling five-set road win in the Bronx.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Bentley racked up 18 kills, 26 digs, four blocks and four service aces on the way to a 23.5-point evening
• Knight provided 10 kills and six blocks, while hitting .333 for the Black and Gold
• VCU also received a career-high 28 digs on the back row from sophomore libero Crew Hoffmeier, as well as 10 kills and seven blocks by senior outside hitter Jovana Vukcevic
• Whitley Moody and Zoe Talabong led Fordham with 15 kills each

THE DIFFERENCE

• A pair of Vukcevic kills bookended a 3-0 VCU burst to close the fifth set and give VCU the 15-12 win. Vukcevic also combined with Knight on a double block of Moody to help the Black and Gold break the eighth tie of the frame
• Bentley added a pair of kills and five digs in the tiebreaker to bolster VCU
• Down two sets, VCU trailed 19-15 in the third. Sitting six points away from a loss, VCU promptly embarked on a 9-3 run, spurred by three Bentley kills, to stun Fordham 25-22. Knight and sophomore outside hitter Parker Hartzell each recorded four kills in the fourth on the way to a 25-23 VCU victory. The Black and Gold stormed to an 8-2 lead and never looked back
• VCU registered 103 digs and outblocked Fordham 14-9. VCU also served up nine aces

NOTABLE

• Saturday's match was VCU's third consecutive five-set affair. VCU's three matches this week totaled nearly seven hours of volleyball
• Bentley averaged 3.40 kills, 5.33 digs and 0.53 blocks per set in three matches this week
• VCU is 4-4 in five-set matches this season. Saturday marked the second time this season the Black and Gold have rallied from a 2-0 deficit for a win. VCU also turned the trick on Sept. 9 against Georgia Southern

NEXT UP
VCU will return to the Siegel Center for two pivotal Atlantic 10 Conference matches with Dayton Oct. 14-15. Both matches start at 1 p.m. and will air on ESPN+.