VCU Invitational
Score: Elon 3, VCU 1 (25-17, 15-25, 25-15, 25-22)
Location: Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 1-2, Elon 1-2
 
The short story: VCU received 12 kills and four blocks from junior middle blocker Jasmine Knight, but it wasn't enough for the Rams to hold off late-charging Elon Saturday in their weekend finale.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Knight capped an outstanding individual weekend by hitting .300 in 30 swings Saturday. She registered four kills on five attempts, as well as a pair of blocks, to lead the Rams to a win in set No. 2
• Sophomore libero Crew Hoffmeier supplied 17 digs from the back row for the Black & Gold, while senior outside hitter Qairo Bentley chipped in eight kills and seven digs. Graduate outside hitter Jovana Vukcevic added seven kills and four blocks, while hitting .208
• Leah Daniel led all players with 21 kills for the Phoenix

THE DIFFERENCE

• Elon limited the Rams to a .112 hitting percentage and held VCU to 43 kills in the contest. The Phoenix defense produced 81 digs, 16 more than the Rams
• The Rams hit just .114 in the final two sets as Elon scored back-to-back wins on the way to a four-set victory
• The decisive fourth set featured 13 ties and four lead changes. VCU tied the set at 10-10 following an Elon attacking error. The teams proceeded to trade the next 14 points until the Phoenix, led by Daniel and Brooke Doherty kills, ripped off four straight for a 21-17 advantage. The Rams would not recover
• Elon cruised to a 25-17 win in the opening frame, but the Rams promptly locked the Phoenix down defensively on the way to a 25-15 triumph. Elon hit just .057 in that set as VCU dug 17 balls and recorded four blocks

NEXT UP
VCU will travel to Annapolis, Md. for the Kristen Dickmann Invitational Sept. 1-3. The Rams will face host Navy on Thursday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m.