Score: VCU 3, George Washington 2 (23-25, 25-15, 22-25, 25-18, 15-6)
Location: Richmond, Va. (Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 10-8 (8-2 Atlantic 10), George Washington 15-5 (5-5)
 
The short story: Fueled by 17 kills by junior outside hitter Kalina Pylinska and four fifth-set aces, VCU rallied past George Washington Friday night for a sixth straight win.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Pylinska hit .282 on 39 attempts and also provided 15 digs and two aces
• VCU also received 13 kills and two blocks from graduate middle blocker Jasmine Knight. Knight hit .545 on 22 swings
• Senior Parker Hartzell added 11 kills, while hitting .364 for the Rams
• On the back row, sophomore libero Anja Kujundzic supplied 18 digs and two aces for VCU
• Salem Yohannes and Haylee Brown led the Revolutionaries with 10 kills each

THE DIFFERENCE

• The Rams needed just four kills in the tiebreaker. The match ended up swinging on each team's effort at the service line. George Washington committed four service errors in the fifth, while the Rams rode four aces to the win. Kujundzic served up back-to-back aces for the final two points of the night in a 15-6 triumph. Consecutive kills by Pylinska and freshman Lara Del Core snapped a 5-5 tie. A short time later, Pylinska fired two straight aces to expand VCU's lead to 12-5 
• VCU trailed 2-1 in the match, but held George Washington to just seven kills and a .030 hitting percentage on the way to a 25-18 win in the fourth
• The Black and Gold hit .279 on the day, compared to the Revs' .141 mark
• The Rams owned a decisive 80-49 advantage in digs
• George Washington recorded 17 service errors

NOTABLE

• VCU has won 12 of 13 against George Washington in the series
• The Rams' six-match win streak is tied for its longest since the 2021 season 

NEXT UP
The Rams and Revolutionaries will meet again on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Siegel Center. VCU will hold Senior Day ceremonies prior to the match. Knight, Hartzell and senior setter Taylor Aguano will all be honored.