2025 Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament Bracket (.pdf)

Score: VCU 3, Fordham 1 (22-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-14)
Location: Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 14-12 (12-6 Atlantic 10), Fordham 9-19 (3-15)
 
The Short Story: VCU celebrated Senior Day and wrapped up their regular season with a commanding win over Fordham thanks to a strong performance from its graduating class. The Black and Gold have earned the No. 4 seed in the upcoming Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament, which will be held Nov. 21-23 at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Senior Julia Rienks led the Rams with 19 kills with a .279 hit percentage in 43 total attempts. She also added nine digs, two aces, and one assist
• Setter Elif Ozsoy had a productive offensive match, setting a season-high with eight kills to go along with 43 assists, 13 digs, two aces and a team-leading four blocks
• Senior Kalina Pylinska added 14 kills, nine digs, and three assists with a .286 hit percentage
• Graduate libero Haruka Sugimoto chipped in a solid performance on her senior night, leading the team in digs with 16 and aces with three. She also finished with a season-high 10 assists 

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU dominated on offense with 62 kills and a .288 hit percentage, compared to Fordham's 41 kills and .184 hit percentage
• Fordham had three aces in a victorious first set, but only finished with five on the match compared to VCU's nine
• There were eight ties and four lead changes in the first set as Fordham sought to take control of the match. However, VCU responded to sweep the final three frames. There were just three lead changes in the final three sets, combined

NOTABLE

• Pylinska's 14 kills marked her fifth straight match in double figures, her longest streak in a VCU uniform
• Rienks averaged 5.0 kills per set in two matches against Fordham this weekend

NEXT UP
The Rams will look to capture their first A-10 Tournament title since 2017 next weekend. VCU will host fifth-seeded George Mason in opening round on Friday, Nov. 21 at 1 p.m. at the Siegel Center. A victory would send the Black and Gold to a semifinal matchup with top-seeded Dayton at noon on Saturday, Nov. 22. All A-10 Tournament matches will stream live on ESPN+.