Tournament: Summit Hospitality Group Open
Score: VCU 3, Coastal Carolina 1 (13-25, 25-18, 25-13, 25-14)
Location: Raleigh, N.C. (Reynolds Coliseum)
Record: VCU 2-6, Coastal Carolina 3-7
 
The short story: Graduate middle blocker Jasmine Knight and junior outside hitter Julia Rienks battered Coastal Carolina to the tune of 32 kills as VCU capped its non-conference schedule with a four-set win Saturday.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Knight and Rienks each totaled 16 kills to spearhead the VCU attack. Knight hit .500 on 24 swings and also recorded a season-high eight blocks. Rienks also chipped in defensively with 11 digs
• The Rams enjoyed one of their best offensive performances of the season as freshman setter Cansin Sendir handed out 41 assists
• Sophomore libero Anja Kujundzic scooped up 17 digs for he Black and Gold, while juniors Kalina Pylinska and Alicja Jaryszek each supplied seven kills
• Emily Fowler led the Chanticleers with nine kills 

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU shifted gears midway through the second set closed the match with its most dominant stretch of volleyball of the season. The Rams, down 1-0 in the match, trailed 16-14 in the second frame. But Knight spiked three kills to spark an 11-2 blitz by the Rams to close out the set on the way to a 25-18 win. Knight registered eight kills (on 10 attempts) in the second set alone
• The Rams never trailed in either the third or fourth sets. VCU's defense clamped down on Coastal, as the Chanticleers hit -.036 and -.062 in the third and fourth, respectively
• Rienks blasted seven kills in the fourth to help the Rams clinch the victory
• VCU hit .286 in the match, its second-best effort of the year, while holding Coastal Carolina to a .092 mark, the lowest by a Black and Gold opponent this season
• The Rams owned a 59-43 advantage in digs and outblocked the Chanticleers 12-11

NEXT UP
VCU will kick off Atlantic 10 Conference play on Friday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. at George Mason. That contest will be streamed live on ESPN+.