Tournament: Cavalier Classic
Score: Appalachian State 3, VCU 2 (27-25, 21-25, 23-25, 25-23, 15-6)
Location: Charlottesville, Va. (Memorial Gymnasium)
Records: VCU 1-3, Appalachian State 5-0
 
The short story: Senior Julia Rienks led all players with 21 kills for VCU, but it wasn't enough for the Rams to hold off pesky Appalachian State Friday at the Cavalier Classic.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Rienks hit .279 on 43 attempts Friday. She added 10 digs to log her second consecutive double-double for the Black and Gold
• VCU sophomore outside hitter Lara Del Core also provided 15 kills, while hitting .324. She kicked in a pair of aces
• Sophomore middle blocker Letizia Galli supplied 10 kills on 16 swings, while sophomore setter Cansin Sendir contributed a career-high 49 assists and 16 digs to the VCU cause
• Maya Winterhoff spurred the Mountaineers with 14 kills on 21 attempts and eight blocks

THE DIFFERENCE

• Appalachian State hit .643 with no errors in the decisive fifth set. The Mountaineers' Addison Heidemann bookended a pair of Lou Johnson kills with two service aces as ASU stormed to leads of 4-0 and 11-2 on the way to the win
• The Mountaineers hit .290 in the contest and outblocked VCU 12-5
• The Rams led the opening set 22-18, but were unable to close out the Mountaineers. Ali Morris registered three kills as Appalachian State finished the frame with a 9-3 run to earn a 27-25 victory
• VCU rallied back for a 2-1 match lead. The Rams hit .333 in the second – a set that featured 17 ties and five lead changes – on the way to a 25-21 equalizer

NEXT UP
VCU will meet East Tennessee State on Friday, Sept. 12 at 11 a.m. in the opening day of the Buccaneer Classic in Johnson City, Tenn.