Score: VCU 3, George Mason 2 (25-15, 25-22, 23-25, 22-25, 15-8)
Location: Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 13-10 (10-3 Atlantic 10), George Mason 7-18 (3-10)
 
The short story: Junior outside hitter Kialah Jefferson blasted 24 kills and turned in a standout all-around effort to power VCU to a five-set win over George Mason Saturday afternoon.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Jefferson added 14 digs, seven blocks and an ace to perhaps the finest performance of her VCU career
• Senior middle blocker Jasmine Knight added 16 kills and five blocks for the Black and Gold
• Junior opposite Parker Hartzell also contributed 13 kills and hit .440 on 25 swings for the Rams
• Gabriella Gelfound led Mason with 11 kills and seven blocks

THE DIFFERENCE

• In a back-and-forth match, VCU used a pair of kills by Jefferson early in the fifth-set tiebreaker to jump out to a 4-1 lead. Later, kills by Knight and senior middle blocker Sarah Stratton helped the Rams extend their lead to 12-6 on the way to a 15-8, match-clinching victory
• The Rams hit .531 in the opening set and committed just one error, in a 25-15 rout. VCU pushed to a 2-0 lead with a 25-22 victory in the second frame before the Patriots mounted their comeback
• VCU hit .216 in the match, compared with Mason's .115
• The Rams piled up 15 blocks in the contest 

NOTABLE

• Knight now has 396 career blocks
• The Rams have won 15 of 18 against George Mason

NEXT UP
The Rams and Patriots will square off again on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Siegel Center