Score: VCU 3, George Mason 1 (25-27, 25-17, 25-22, 25-23)
Location: Fairfax, Va. (Recreation and Athletic Complex)
Records: VCU 6-8 (1-1 Atlantic 10), George Mason 5-8 (1-1)
 
The short story: Junior middle blocker Jasmine Knight tied a career-high with 11 blocks as VCU turned up the temperature defensively on the way to a four-set win Saturday.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Knight wasn't just a menace on the defensive end. She also dialed up 14 kills to help spark the VCU offense
• Senior outside hitter Qairo Bentley spiked 22 kills and hit .245, with 14 digs and six blocks in perhaps the best all-around match of her VCU career. It's the second time in three matches Bentley has topped 20 kills
• Junior middle blocker Sarah Stratton recorded seven blocks, five kills and five blocks for the Rams, while Jovana Vukcevic added seven kills and seven blocks of her own
• Sophomore setter Corinna Jones steered the VCU offense with 45 assists and four kills. She was also credited with seven digs and three blocks
• Ewelina Gacek led George Mason with nine kills

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU dug its way out of a 1-0 hole by hitting .308 in the second set on the way to a 25-17 win. Knight supplied four blocks and three kills in the frame. The Rams were credited with 6.5 blocks in the second as the Black and Gold held Mason to an .091 hitting percentage. VCU scored 11 straight points at one stage to build a 20-7 lead
• The second set was more of the same. VCU piled up seven blocks – Knight was party to five of those – on the way to a 23-16 lead. VCU eventually won 25-22
• The Rams held the Patriots to a .152 hitting percentage and also fired 10 aces

NOTABLE

• VCU's 18.5 blocks are tied for its most since the Rams recorded 20.0 on Sept. 9, 2017 against Howard
• VCU and George Mason split the weekend series
• The Rams own a 13-3 advantage in their series with George Mason since the Patriots joined the Atlantic 10 in 2013

NEXT UP
VCU will host Rhode Island in a pair of matches at the Stuart C. Siegel Center Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. Friday's match will begin at 6 p.m., while Saturday will get underway at 5 p.m. Both matches will be available on ESPN+.