Score: George Mason 3, VCU 0 (25-12, 25-20, 25-21)
Location: Fairfax, Va. (Recreation and Athletic Complex)
Records: VCU 5-8 (0-1 Atlantic 10), George Mason 5-7 (1-0)
 
The short story: Senior outside hitter Qairo Bentley's 14 kills were not enough for VCU to hold off George Mason Friday in the Atlantic 10 Conference opener for both teams.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Bentley supplied nearly half of VCU's 29 kills and hit .393 in the match on 28 attempts. She also provided four blocks and an ace in a 17-point evening for the Denver, Colo. native
• Junior middle blocker Jasmine Knight chipped in with five kills for the Black and Gold, while sophomore setter Corinna Jones provided 23 assists
• Junior middle blocker Sarah Stratton also recorded seven blocks for the Rams
• Mujay Mambu led the Patriots with a 15-kill night. She hit .619 

THE DIFFERENCE

• Behind Mambu, George Mason hit .316 in the match, while VCU hit .144
• The Patriots doubled up the Rams in digs (42-21) and served up five aces to VCU's three
• The Rams got off to a slow start, hitting .080 in the opening set. Mason, meanwhile, hit .346 on the way to a 25-12 win. VCU trailed just 8-7 early in the frame, but watched at the Patriots put together a 15-3 run that put the set out of reach
• George Mason hit .294 in the second and .343 in the third. The Rams led the second 14-12, but Olyvia Kennedy keyed an 8-2 burst with a pair of kills to put the Patriots back in control

NEXT UP
VCU and George Mason will meet again on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 5 p.m. in Fairfax, Va. That contest will be available on ESPN+.