TEMPLE STOPS VCU BEHIND ZHANG
10-21-08
Box Score

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Sophomore Mariel Frey (Lititz, Pa.) (left) spiked eight kills and recorded four blocks, but it couldn’t prevent Virginia Commonwealth University from dropping a 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 26-24) decision to Temple Tuesday afternoon at McGonigle Hall.

Despite the 3-0 score, the match was hotly contested, with each set decided by three points or less. The second set alone featured 15 ties and six lead changes.

Ultimately, the Owls’ Yun Yi Zhang, who blasted 19 kills, proved too much to overcome. Patricia Vernon added 10 kills and hit .533 for Temple (13-10).

VCU (12-8) registered 14 blocks in the match, including five apiece from junior Ivana Rich (Cumberland, Va.) and sophomore Kelsie Clegg (Boise, Idaho). Rich was named Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week Monday.

Also for the Rams, senior Laryssa Goncalves (Curitiba, Brazil) logged 13 digs to become the third player in school history to reach 1,700 for her career. Goncalves, who has 1,704 career digs, needs 37 to pass Cindy O’Brien (1,740) for second place in VCU history.

The Rams return to the courts on Friday, Oct. 24 when they host CAA rival George Mason at the Alltel Pavilion at the Stuart C. Siegel Center. That match is set to begin at 7 p.m.