Score: VCU 3, Dayton 0 (27-25, 25-17, 26-24)
Location: Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)
Records: #4 VCU 16-12 (12-6 Atlantic 10), #1 Dayton 23-7 (18-0 Atlantic 10)
 
The Short Story: Senior Kalina Pylinska delivered 13 kills and three aces as fourth-seeded VCU shocked top-seeded Dayton in three sets to advance to the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship Match Sunday at the Siegel Center.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Pylinska was dominant all match, hitting .478 on 23 swings. She also provided eight digs in the contest
• Senior opposite Julia Rienks provided a team-high 16 kills to power the VCU attack. She chipped in six digs
• In the middle for VCU, sophomore Letizia Galli hit .500 with seven kills and a solo block, while junior Nina Boledovicova supplied five blocks and five kills
• Graduate setter Elif Ozsoy directed the VCU offense to the tune of 40 assists
• Kamryn Hunt paced the Flyers with 17 kills

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU fought off two set points in the first on the way to a 27-25 win. With the Rams trailing 25-24, Pylinska spiked a kill. On the ensuing play, she fired an ace to push VCU out in front 26-25. Rienks hammered a ball for a kill on the next rally to secure the set for the Black and Gold
• In the third, Dayton rallied from a 12-8 deficit to tie the score five times, but could not overtake VCU. The Flyers knotted the frame up for the final time at 24-all following a VCU attacking error. But a service error on the ensuing play, as well as a Boledovicova kill, handed the Rams a 26-24 win and the match
• VCU hit .259 against the A-10's top-rated defense. Dayton opponents were hitting just .173 this season prior to Saturday

NOTABLE

• With Saturday's win, VCU advances to the Atlantic 10 Championship Match for the first time since the 2020 season, which was played in the spring of 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• The Rams also prevented Dayton from reaching the A-10 Championship Match for the first time since 2013
• VCU is seeking its fifth conference tournament title overall and second A-10 Tournament crown. The Rams last captured the A-10 Tournament Championship in 2017
• The Rams are also eyeing their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019

NEXT UP
The A-10 Championship Match is set for Sunday at the Siegel Center, where the Rams will take on either Duquesne or Loyola Chicago for the title. The match begins at noon and will be streamed live on ESPN+