Score: VCU 3, Fordham 1 (26-24, 25-20, 18-25, 25-21)
Location: Bronx, N.Y. (Rose Hill Gymnasium)
Records: VCU 17-8 (15-2 Atlantic 10), Fordham 7-19 (3-14)
 
The short story: Freshman Lara Del Core went to work on Fordham, bombing 18 kills and three aces as VCU notched its 13^th straight victory Friday in The Bronx. The win improved the Black and Gold to 15-2 in Atlantic 10 play and set a school record for the most conference victories in a single season.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Del Core has been on a tear in league play, and Friday was no exception. She hit .317 on 41 attempts and added a pair of blocks in a 22.5-point afternoon
• Graduate middle blocker Jasmine Knight hit .609 on the way to 15 kills for VCU. The Phoenix, Ariz. native also supplied three blocks
• Junior opposite Julia Rienks chipped in with 11 kills and five digs for the Black and Gold, while senior setter Taylor Aguano provided 32 assists and 10 digs
• Whitley Moody led Fordham with 14 kills

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU hit .333 in the match to overpower Fordham, which hit .250
• The Black and Gold fought off set point in the first, as Del Core spiked a kill and served up an ace on back-to-back plays. Del Core also served the final point moments later, when Knight unceremoniously pummeled a Fordham overpass to give VCU a 26-24 win
• VCU trailed 14-10 midway through the fourth set. Later, after rallying to tie the frame on two occasions, VCU closed with a 5-1 burst that included two kills by junior outside hitter Kalina Pylinska, to secure a 25-21 triumph

NOTABLE

• VCU had previously won 14 league matches in 2017 and 2019
• Knight now has 1,230 career kills and is third on VCU's all-time list. She needs 37 to pass Kristin Boyd (1,266) for second 

NEXT UP
VCU and Fordham will wrap up regular season play on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Rose Hill Gymnasium.