Score: VCU 3, Davidson 0 (25-18, 25-23, 33-31)
Location: Davidson, N.C. (Belk Arena)
Records: VCU 5-8 (3-2 Atlantic 10), Davidson 6-10 (2-3)
 
The short story: Junior outside hitter Julia Rienks and graduate middle blocker Jasmine Knight combined for 33 of VCU's 50 kills to power the Rams to a sweep Tuesday night at Belk Arena.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Rienks led all players with 18 kills. She was nearly unstoppable, hitting .560 on 25 attempts
• Knight finished 15 kills on 25 swings and hit .520 for the Black and Gold. She added three blocks
• Sophomore libero Anja Kujundzic bolstered the VCU back line with 14 digs. She also contributed a pair of service aces
• Senior setter Taylor Aguano directed an efficient VCU attack with 31 assists. She also supplied three blocks and an ace
• Isabel Decker helped keep the Wildcats in the match with a team-high 14 kills

THE DIFFERENCE

• The Rams repeatedly made clutch plays down the stretch of the final two sets on the way to victory. In the third, VCU got a kill from Rienks during a 3-0 swing that tied the set at 21-all. At 24-24, the teams embarked on a 16-point tug-of-war that featured eight ties and two lead changes. Finally, Rienks converted her 18^th kill of the night to make it 32-31. On the ensuing play, Knight and Aguano rejected a Decker smash at the right pin for a match-clinching double block
• In the second set, VCU roared back from a 21-16 deficit with a 9-2 run that included kills from four different Rams to claim a 25-23 triumph
• VCU hit .298 on the night, including .438 in the first set

NOTABLE
The match featured 25 ties and 13 lead changes in just three sets. The third stanza alone included 15 ties and six lead changes
 
NEXT UP
VCU will return home to host Saint Louis at the Stuart C. Siegel Center for a pair of Atlantic 10 Conference tilts. The Rams and Billikens will kick off the weekend series Friday at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.