VCU Volleyball vs. William & Mary (9/13/16)

Records: VCU 5-6, William & Mary 4-6

Freshman Vicky Giommarini was unstoppable in the final three sets with 13 spikes to go along with senior Rebekah Strange’s 30 digs as VCU came back from a 2-0 deficit against William & Mary to win the match 3-2 (19-25, 24-26, 25-21, 25-13, 15-11).

After winning their first set of the match, VCU never relinquished the momentum. The Rams never trailed in the final two sets and William & Mary only managed to tie the score once during that stretch.  Giommarini’s kills in the fifth set came at the most pivotal time in the set. Her three kills in the fifth set help provide VCU with a 5-2 burst that pushed the Rams lead to 11-7 in the set and William & Mary would get no closer than three the rest of the way.

Giommarini finished with a match-high 22 kills. Sophomore Sahbria McLetchie recorded 16 kills and freshman Jasmin Sneed provided eight kills and eight blocks. While freshman Madalon Simpson finished with 20 digs and three aces. VCU freshman setter Tyler Sroufe dished out 53 assists, 13 digs, and three blocks.

Tuesday’s comeback marked the first time VCU has overcome a 2-0 deficit to win since Sept. 14, 2013 at Tennessee.

VCU Men’s Soccer vs. #17 Virginia Cavaliers (9/14/16)

Records: VCU 1-5, Virginia 3-1-1

The VCU Rams didn’t perform well on Wednesday night against the 17th ranked Virginia Cavaliers. The Rams were held without a shot or shot on goal in the first half. They would end with four total shots for the game as they were shutout by the Cavaliers, losing 3-0 in Charlottesville.

Virginia jumped right out of the gate to take an early 1-0 lead in the 11th minute with a goal by Edward Opoku. The Cavaliers scored another goal before halftime to extend the score to 2-0 and the second half wasn’t much trouble for the Cavaliers either. Virginia held control through the second half, as they were able to get multiple shots on net through the first 13 minutes of the second half.  For VCU, they only had one corner kick opportunity on the night, as they were caught offsides five times during the game.

VCU will return to action this Tuesday, September 20, as they return home to face the Old Dominion Monarchs starting at 7 p.m.

VCU Women’s Soccer vs. James Madison (9/16/16)

Records: VCU 3-4-1, James Madison 3-6 

It almost took the whole 120 minutes to find a winner between the VCU Rams and James Madison Dukes on Friday night. The Rams were down 2-0 in the second half, but with goals from Maddi Santo and Julia Suarez to tie the score at 2, the game went into overtime. But a goal from Ashley Herndon, her second of the game, of the Dukes in the 115th minute gave James Madison the 3-2 win over VCU.

VCU struggled in the first half, only getting off one shot in the first half. VCU ended up totaling five shots for the game, but James Madison had 21 shots with 10 on goal. James Madison also topped VCU in corner kicks, 7-to-4. Goalkeeper Audrey Sanderson recorded seven saves in the losing effort.

VCU will return to action this Sunday, September 18 when they return to Sportsbackers Stadium. They will take on Liberty at 6 p.m.

VCU Volleyball vs. Middle Tennessee State in the VCU Invitational (9/16/16) 

Records: VCU 6-6, Middle Tennessee State 3-9

Career Night for Bekah Strange Leads Rams to Victory

By: James Shumaker

Bekah Strange, the junior libero for the VCU Rams, collected her 1000th dig Friday night in the Rams’ first game in the VCU Invitational against the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders. Strange’s 19 digs on the night lead the defensive front for the Rams. Vicky Giommarini lead the offense with 11 kills as the Rams made a clean sweep of the Blue Raiders.

VCU won the match 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 28-26). The match was pretty much one sided as the Rams offense and defense were clicking on all cylinders through the first two sets. The third set however was a battle. With a few shaky calls from the officials the Blue Raiders were able to battle back and make it a close one. The Rams stuck together and still prevailed to win the set. The Rams improve to 6-6 on the season, winning their third straight game, while MTSU falls to 3-9.

VCU Volleyball vs. Morgan State in the VCU Invitational (9/17/16)

Records: VCU 7-6, Morgan State 0-14 

VCU was in control from start to finish as the Rams made a clean sweep of Morgan State 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-12) in the VCU Invitational. VCU has now won a season-high four consecutive matches and everything seems to be clicking at the right time for the Rams.

Junior Rebekah Strange recorded 17 digs and helped VCU out dig Morgan State 43-33. The Rams served a season-high 11 aces, with five coming from freshman Madalon Simpson. Freshman teammate, Tyler Sroufe, set 27 assists and recorded six digs. VCU was bolstered offensively by junior Alica Kandler and freshman Vicky Giommarini with eight and seven kills, respectively.

Strange has averaged 5.83 digs per set for VCU so far in two VCU Invitational games.

VCU Volleyball vs. Liberty in the VCU Invitational (9/17/16)

Records: VCU 8-6, Liberty 5-7

The VCU Rams defeated the Liberty Flames 3-1 (26-24, 25-21, 13-25, 25-22) in their third and final game of the VCU Invitational to go undefeated in the tournament.

The Rams built an early lead in the first set before Liberty came back to tie things up at 24. Freshman Jasmin Sneed recorded a kill to break the tie and a Liberty miscue on the next play allowed VCU to win the first set 26-24. In the second set, VCU was led by Sahbria McLetchie on their way to winning the set 25-21. After a disappointing third set by the Rams, they bounced backed to win the match-clinching fourth set 25-22.

Sneed, along with junior Rebekah Strange and freshman Vicky Giommarini were named to the All-Tournament team. Strange led all players with 18 digs in the match and Giommarini had a match-high 17 kills to go along with nine digs, three aces, and two blocks. Sneed added seven kills and four blocks.

The Rams have won five straight and eight of their last 11 games since their 0-3 start.

VCU will travel to face Towson in their next match on Tuesday, September 20th at 7 p.m.