VCU Invitational
Score: VCU 3, Liberty 1 (16-25, 25-10, 25-23, 25-19)
Location: Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 1-1, Liberty 1-1
 
The short story: Junior middle blocker Jasmine Knight led all players with 15 kills, while senior outside hitter Qairo Bentley posted her first double-double to lead VCU past Liberty Friday at the Siegel Center.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Knight supplied nine of her kills in the final two sets as the Rams pulled away. She hit .370 on the night and added five blocks
• Bentley added 10 kills and 11 digs, while hitting .259 for the Black & Gold
• The Rams also received eight kills on 14 swings from graduate outside Jovana Vukcevic and 15 digs from sophomore libero Crew Hoffmeier
• Trinity Watts paced the Flames with nine kills, six digs and three blocks 

THE DIFFERENCE

• The Rams overcame a slow start on the way to victory. VCU dropped the first set 25-16, but roared back by hitting .375 in the second on the way to a 25-10 win. The Rams closed that frame with an 18-5 blitz
• VCU snuffed out a Liberty comeback in the third when it closed with three straight points, including kills by Knight and junior middle blocker Sarah Stratton to steal a 25-23 victory
• VCU held Liberty to a .100 hitting percentage, while the Rams totaled nine blocks

NOTABLE

• VCU registered a .000 hitting percentage in the first set, but combined to hit .270 the rest of the way. Liberty, meanwhile, hit .370 in the first, but just .040 in the final three frames
• The Rams are 12-2 against Liberty in the past 14 meetings
• Knight hit .450 and averaged .357 kills and 1.00 blocks in two Friday matches

NEXT UP
VCU will meet Elon on Saturday, Aug. 27 at 2:30 p.m. at the Siegel Center to wrap up play in the VCU Invitational