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The Rams improved to 26-9 this season with the victory and may have cast their name into the NCAA Tournament discussion. The Panthers (20-10) were rated 44th in the latest RPI rankings, which should add some heft to VCU’s resume. Also for the Rams, junior Kelsie Clegg (Boise, Idaho) provided five blocks to set a new VCU single-season record. The 6-5 middle has 152 blocks this season, surpassing Jonnie Stone’s 19-year-old mark of 147. With the exception of a disastrous third set, VCU looked crisp while defeating the Big East power. The Rams also received 10 kills and 15 digs from junior Mariel Frey (Lititz, Pa.) and 10 kills and four blocks apiece from senior Ivana Rich (Cumberland, Va.) (pictured, right) and redshirt freshman Kristin Boyd (Wilmington, N.C.). Meagan Dooley and Imani Harper combined for 22 kills and 13 blocks to pace the Panthers. Boyd ripped five kills in seven attempts and added two blocks in the Rams’ 25-22 victory in the opening set. Kvapilova and Frey combined for eight of the Rams 15 kills in the second frame as VCU stretched its match lead to 2-0. However, the Rams’ momentum grinded to a halt in the third set, when Pitt recorded eight blocks to stymie VCU’s offense. The Black and Gold hit -.211 in the third frame. The Rams halted any chance of a Panther comeback when they pushed to a 22-21 lead in the fourth set on back-to-back kills by Frey and Boyd. A short time later, Frey clinched a 25-23 win with her fifth kill of the set. VCU returns to action on Saturday in the second day of the Rams’ Thanksgiving Invitational. Delaware and Pitt will kick off play at 1 p.m. on the Siegel Center floor, and VCU will follow against Liberty at 4 p.m. |
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RICHMOND, Va. – Freshman Michala Kvapilova (Liberec, Czech) led four players in double-digit kills with 14 in Virginia Commonwealth University’s 3-1 (25-22, 25-19, 11-25, 25-23) win over Pittsburgh in the VCU/Third Degree Sportswear Invitational Friday at the Verizon Wireless Arena. All rights reserved.
