Score: Dayton 3, VCU 2 (23-25, 22-25, 26-24, 25-21, 15-11)
Location: Dayton, Ohio (Frericks Center)
Records: VCU 12-12 (10-6 Atlantic 10), Dayton 21-6 (16-0)
 
The short story: Senior Julia Rienks powered a valiant VCU effort with 17 kills, but the Rams were unable to hold off a furious comeback by Dayton on the road.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Rienks added 10 digs, seven blocks and an ace in one of her best all-around performances of the season
• Graduate setter Elif Ozsoy supplied 43 assists, 13 digs and six kills for the Black and Gold
• The Rams also received 12 kills and three aces from senior Kalina Pylinska, as well as nine kills and three aces from senior Alicja Jaryszek
• Kamryn Hunt fueled the Flyers on Saturday with 17 kills and 11 digs 

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU had Dayton on the ropes following 25-23 and 25-22 wins in the first and second sets, respectively. But the Flyers would not go away. Dayton stayed alive with a 26-24 triumph in a third set that included 12 ties and three lead changes. VCU rallied to tie the frame at 22-22 and 24-24, but a service error, followed by a Liana Sarkissian kill, kept the Rams at bay.
• The Flyers used a pair of blocks midway through the fifth to spark a 5-1 burst that provided UD with a 12-8 cushion. The Rams pulled within 12-10, but Hunt blasted kills on the final two rallies of the day in a 15-11 Flyers victory
• Dayton owned a 12-8 edge in blocking and 10-9 in service aces
• The Flyers hit .231 on the day, while VCU hit .178

NOTABLE
The Rams were attempting to end Dayton's 54-match win streak in Atlantic 10 Conference regular season play. The Flyers have not dropped a conference contest since 2022, but saw VCU push them to five sets on back-to-back nights.
 
NEXT UP
VCU will host Fordham in the final weekend of the regular season Nov. 15-16 at the Siegel Center. Saturday's match-up will get underway at 4 p.m. Both contests will air on ESPN+.