Score: VCU 3, Old Dominion 1 (25-23, 25-21, 22-25, 25-20)
Location: Norfolk, Va. (ODU Volleyball Center)
Records: VCU 2-5, ODU 2-7
 
The short story: Senior Julia Rienks rang up 22 kills – which matched her most in a VCU uniform – to power VCU to a four-set win at Old Dominion Friday night in Norfolk.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Rienks needed just 44 attempts to record her second 20-plus kill match of the year. She hit .318 and also supplied 13 digs
• Sophomore Lara Del Core also had a big night for the Black and Gold. She recorded 18 kills, while hitting .283
• Sophomore middle Letizia Galli was credited with six blocks and five kills in support of the VCU cause, while senior setter Elif Ozsoy dished out 49 assists, dug 11 balls and blocked four more, while serving up three aces
• Old Dominion's Elisa Maggi led all players with 26 kills

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU hit .257 on the way to victory, its highest since a season-opening win over Ohio State; In the three sets the Rams won, they hit .316
• The Black and Gold owned a 12-8 advantage in blocks and served up six aces
• VCU never trailed and hit .286 on the way to a 25-23 triumph in the first. Remarkably, the set featured 12 ties, but ODU was never able to wrestle the lead away from the Rams. With the scored knotted at 23-all, Ozsoy assisted on one kill, then registered one of her own to clinch the set for the Black and Gold
• The Lady Monarchs struck back in the third, but VCU closed the match out with a strong finish in the fourth. The Rams closed the frame with a 6-1 burst, including three kills by Rienks, to salt away a 25-20 win

NOTABLE

• Rienks continued her march towards 1,000 kills. With 22 Friday, she sits at 902 overall
• ODU hit .196 on the night. The Lady Monarchs are the fourth opponent the Rams have held under .200 this season

NEXT UP
VCU will host N.C. State on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. at the Stuart C. Siegel Center in the Rams' home opener.