VCU Invitational
Score: High Point 3, VCU 0 (25-18, 27-25, 25-16)
Location: Richmond, Va. (Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 0-1, High Point 1-0
 
The short story: Junior middle blocker Jasmine Knight supplied 10 kills, but it wasn't enough for VCU, which dropped its season-opener to High Point Friday in the first day of the VCU Invitational.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Knight, a First Team All-Atlantic 10 Conference selection in 2021, hit .615 for the Rams in the match and committed just two errors. She was also credited with a pair of blocks
• Freshman outside hitter Juul Knapen added seven kills and six digs in her VCU debut, while senior outside hitter Qairo Bentley provided eight kills
• On the back row, sophomore outside hitter Kialah Jefferson bolstered the Black and Gold defense with 18 kills, while sophomore libero Crew Hoffmeier chipped in with nine
• Sydney Palazzolo sparked the High Point attack with 17 kills and 13 digs

THE DIFFERENCE

• The Panthers hit .273 in the match, while the Rams were held to a .139 mark
• High Point also owned an 11-3 edge in blocks and a 59-54 advantage in digs
• The match swung on a pivotal sequence in the second set. In a back-and-forth frame, VCU took a 24-23 lead when a right-handed smash down the right side by Bentley was ruled a kill following a VCU challenge. Later, with the score tied 25-all, High Point responded with back-to-back kills from Maggie Salley and Palazzolo to secure a 27-25 set win and a 2-0 advantage in the match. The second set alone featured 16 ties and six lead changes
• The Panthers promptly hit .286 in the match-clinching third frame, committing just four errors, to clinch the victory

NEXT UP
VCU will host Liberty at 6 p.m. at the Siegel Center on Friday evening.