Score: VCU 3, George Mason 1 (25-16, 26-24, 21-25, 25-15)
Location: Fairfax, Va. (Recreation & Athletic Complex)
Records: VCU 3-6 (1-0 A-10), George Mason 5-8 (0-1)
 
The short story: Junior outside hitter Julia Rienks hammered a match-high 17 kills as VCU opened Atlantic 10 Conference play with a four-set win at George Mason Friday night.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Rienks was dominant. The Daytona State transfer hit .371 in the contest on 35 attempts. She also dug seven balls, recorded three blocks and served up an ace in a 20-point evening
• Graduate middle blocker Jamsine Knight powered her way to 13 kills and three blocks, while hitting .348 for the Black and Gold
• Freshman setter Cansin Sendir steered the VCU offense with a season-high 44 assists. She also supplied nine digs and two blocks
• Junior outside hitter Alicja Jaryszek added nine kills, seven digs and three blocks for VCU
• Haley Graetz led the Patriots with 13 kills

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU buckled down defensively. The Rams registered nine blocks and owned a 54-44 edge in digs. As a result, the Patriots found little daylight on the attack and hit .161 on the night. Mason hit better than .200 in just one of Friday's four sets
• The Rams hit .264 on the night, including .433 in the fourth on the way to a wire-to-wire 25-15 victory
• The Black and Gold, up 1-0 in the contest, fought off four straight set points and scored a match-changing 26-24 win in the second. Down 24-20, Rienks and Sendir provided consecutive kills to ignite a 6-0 VCU run to close the frame. Sendir also combined with Knight on a pivotal double block that snapped a 24-24 tie
• In the fourth, freshman opposite Lara Del Core came off the bench the sparked the Rams with five kills in seven swings 

NEXT UP
VCU and George Mason will meet again Saturday at the Recreation and Athletic Complex at 4 p.m. That match will be streamed live via ESPN+.