Score: VCU 3, Davidson 0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-12)
Location: Richmond, Va. (Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 12-8 (10-2 Atlantic 10), Davidson 11-12 (7-5)
 
The short story: Reigning Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Week Lara Del Core smashed 15 kills as VCU spiked Davidson in three sets and kept its win streak alive Tuesday night at the Siegel Center.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Del Core, a 6-foot-2 freshman, hit .520 on the day. She committed just two errors in 25 swings and added a block
• Graduate middle blocker Jasmine Knight produced 10 kills and two blocks, while hitting .375 on 24 attempts for VCU
• Freshman middle blocker Letizia Galli and junior outside hitter Kalina Pylinska added seven kills each for the Black and Gold
• In the back row, sophomore libero Anja Kujundzic collected 18 digs for the Rams
• Jackie Bardin paced the Wildcats with 10 kills

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU hit .333 on the night, the Rams' second consecutive match hitting better than .300. It's the fourth time this season VCU has topped .300
• The Rams trailed 19-17 in the second set, but kills by Knight and Del Core, as well as a service ace by junior outside hitter Julia Rienks catapulted VCU in front, 20-19. The Rams would not trail again and a kill by Pylinska a short time later locked up a 25-23 win and handed the Black and Gold a commanding 2-0 match lead
• VCU never trailed in the third, using a pair of kills each by Rienks, Del Core and Knight to march out to an 8-2 lead on the way to a decisive 25-12 clincher

NOTABLE

• The Rams have won eight straight matches, the program's longest win streak since 2019
• VCU currently sits in sole possession of second place in the Atlantic 10 Conference with a 10-2 mark

NEXT UP
VCU will host Rhode Island in back-to-back matches on Nov. 1-2 at the Siegel Center. Friday's match will get underway at 6 p.m.