Tournament: Erie Invitational
Score: James Madison 3, VCU 1 (19-25, 25-14, 25-22, 25-23)
Location: Harrisonburg, Va. (JMU Convocation Center)
Records: VCU 3-5, James Madison 7-2
 
The short story: Junior opposite Parker Hartzell capped an All-Tournament performance with 10 kills and three blocks for VCU, which fell to host James Madison Sunday.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Hartzell was efficient Sunday. She hit .320 on 25 swings and committed just two errors
• Junior outside hitter Kialah Jefferson fired a team-high 11 kills for the Black and Gold, while senior middle blocker Jasmine Knight added 10
• Freshman libero Anja Kujundzic also provided 25 digs and a pair of service aces for the Rams
• James Madison's Bre Reid led all players with 13 kills

THE DIFFERENCE

• The Dukes hit .214, compared to VCU's .172. JMU also owned a 9-6 edge in blocks and 68-65 in digs
• VCU hit .231 and built a 16-9 lead in the first set, on the way to a 25-19 win, behind six kills from Jefferson
• The Rams held the Dukes to a .094 hitting percentage in the opening frame, but would not match that defensive success the rest of the way. JMU hit .308 and never trailed in the second set on the way to a 25-14 victory. The Dukes hit .263 in the third and .204 in the fourth to close out the match
• VCU led 21-19 in the third, but Reid ripped three kills down the stretch as the Dukes closed the set with a 6-1 burst

NOTABLE

• Hartzell earned her first All-Tournament selection after averaging 2.17 kills per set, while hitting .243 in three matches over the weekend. She also provided six blocks
• Jefferson averaged 3.83 kills per set for VCU over the weekend

NEXT UP
VCU will head to the Winthrop Invitational Sept. 15-16 in Rock Hill, S.C. The Rams will open the weekend on Friday, Sept. 15 against South Carolina at 2 p.m.