BOYD DRIVES VCU AS RAMS EARN SATURDAY SPLIT
9-19-09
UMBC 3, VCU 1 (Box Score)
VCU 3, Howard 0 (Box Score)

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Redshirt freshman Kristin Boyd (Wilmington, N.C.) spiked a season-high 14 kills to help Virginia Commonwealth University to a 3-0 win over Howard, and to a split in Saturday’s action, at the in the University of Maryland’s Terrapin Invitational at the Comcast Pavilion. Earlier in the day, the Rams dropped a 3-1 decision to UMBC.

VCU moves to 9-5 with victory over Howard. The Rams finished 2-1 at the tournament, led by senior Ivana Rich (Cumberland, Va.), who averaged 2.73 kills and 1.00 digs, while hitting .359. Freshman Michala Kvapilova (Liberec, Czech Republic) also averaged 3.22 kills per set for the Black and Gold over the weekend.

VCU 3, Howard 0 (25-22, 25-8, 25-22)
Boyd hit .240 for the Rams, who outhit the Bison, .245 to .033. Junior Mariel Frey (Lititz, Pa.) added nine kills and 10 digs, while Rich contributed eight kills and two aces.

VCU was dominant from start to finish and trailed just four times all match. The Rams out-blocked Howard, 7-6, served up seven aces and converted 43 kills on 37 assists.

UMBC 3, VCU 1 (22-25, 25-18, 19-25, 18-25)
Kvapilova and Rich provided 11 kills for VCU, but UMBC (6-6) hit .241 on the way to a 3-1 victory.

Rich hit .348 to spark VCU, which hit .223 in the match. Junior Lenka Melicharkova (Zlin, Czech Republic) handed out 36 assists and collected eight digs for the Black and Gold, while Frey chipped in with seven kills, seven digs and three of VCU’s six aces.

The Rams return to action on Wednesday, Sept. 23 when they hit the road to face Winston-Salem State at 6 p.m. in non-conference play.