Score: VCU 3, Duquesne 1 (25-17, 26-28, 25-15, 25-23)
Location: Richmond, Va. (Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Records: 6-7 (3-0 Atlantic 10), 6-5 (1-2)
The short story: Senior middle blocker
Jasmine Knight's 19-point evening powered VCU past visiting Duquesne Friday night at the Siegel Center.
OPENING VOLLEY
- Knight blasted 16 kills in the match and hit .394 for the Rams. She added six digs for a VCU squad that accumulated 11 total blocks on the evening
- Junior opposite Parker Hartzell added 13 kills, while hitting .387 on 31 attempts, for the Black and Gold. She added four blocks
- Freshman libero Anja Kujundzic and junior outside hitter Kialah Jefferson supplied 24 digs a piece for VCU. Jefferson kicked in seven kills, while Kujundzic served up three aces
- Carsyn Henschen led all players with 18 kills for Duquesne
THE DIFFERENCE
- VCU turned in an outstanding defensive effort. The Rams dug 79 balls, an average of nearly 20 per set (well above their season average of 15.1 per set), and blocked the Dukes 11 times. Duquesne hit just .119 in the match
- The Black and Gold recorded nine aces
- The Rams turned up the heat in the third set, when they hit .321 on the way to a convincing 25-15 win. In the fourth, VCU held off a number of Duquesne challenges. The Rams and Dukes remained within two points of each other for the final 18 plays of the match, but VCU never surrendered the lead
NOTABLE
- VCU has won three straight matches and improved to 3-0 in Atlantic 10 Conference play for the first time since the 2020-21 season
- As Knight went, so did the Rams. In the three sets VCU won Friday night, Knight produced 14 kills and hit .565 on 23 attempts
- VCU has won 15 of its past 17 meetings with Duquesne
NEXT UP
VCU and Duquesne will meet again on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 5 p.m. at the Siegel Center.
