Tournament: VCU Invitational
Score: VCU 3, Iona 0 (25-20, 26-24, 25-18)
Location: Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 2-1, Iona 1-4
 
The short story: Senior outside hitter Ana Brangioni smashed a team-high 11 kills and recorded 12 digs to spur VCU to sweep of Iona Friday.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Brangioni, fresh off an All-Tournament honor at Old Dominion last weekend, hit .286 in 28 tries to lift the VCU offense
• Senior middle blocker Sarah Stratton added five kills and three blocks for the Rams, while redshirt sophomore setter Taylor Aguano dished out 13 assists and served up four aces
• In the back row, freshman libero Anja Kujundzic dug 13 balls for the Black and Gold
• Mackenzie Wiggins led all players with 13 kills for Iona

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU locked up the Gaels defensively. The Rams limited Iona to a paltry .008 hitting percentage
• The Black and Gold outblocked the Gaels 8-5 in the match and VCU served up six aces. Iona recorded just one ace
• Up 1-0 in the match, VCU rallied from a 22-19 deficit in the second set to take control of the contest. A block by sophomore outside hitter Parker Hartzell and senior middle blocker Jasmine Knight kicked off a crucial 5-1 burst for the Rams. Iona tied the set at 24-all, but an attacking error by the Gaels, followed by a block by graduate opposite MaKenzie Chambers pushed VCU to the victory and a 2-0 advantage 

NOTABLE

• Friday's match was the Rams' home opener and kicked off the VCU Invitational
• The Rams have won two straight matches 

NEXT UP
VCU will meet Radford on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 5 p.m. at the Siegel Center