Nine players, including three starters from last
year’s team, return to this season’s squad. Junior
transfer Radoslava Bachvarova and sophomore
La’Tavia Rorie will fill the shoes vacated by
graduates Michele Cosel and Miranda Smith
in the veteran starting lineup. The power duo
of senior Krystal Vaughn and junior Quanitra
Hollingsworth, who averaged a combined 29.3
points per game in the 2006-2007 season, both
return for the Rams.
Associate Head Coach Curt Kassab and
Assistant Head Coach Amaka Agugua join Head
Coach Beth Cunningham on the staff.
Kassab brings 13 years of experience as
a head coach, going 259-80, including eight
seasons at the helm of the girl’s basketball team
at nearby Atlee High School in Mechanicsville.
Kassab is known for his desire to win and instill
a strong work ethic in players.
Agugua served the Rams as a graduate assistant
last season and played CAA basketball at
Hofstra University from 2001-2006. While there,
she was a three-year captain and led the Pride
to its first ever post-season appearance in the
WNIT in 2006.
The Rams finished the 2006-2007 season
with a 17-13 overall record and 10-10 in the
CAA. They reached the quarterfinals of the
conference tournament before bowing out to
host Delaware.
Expectations are higher this season, as VCU
has been tapped to finish fourth in the CAA.
Quanitra Hollingsworth
After two seasons as the face of the VCU women’s
basketball team, Quanitra Hollingsworth is used to
dealing with pressure.
“I definitely have the spotlight on me already,
so it’s not anything different. I just have to go out
there and play,” she said.
For the 6’5 center, going out and playing will
immediately help the Rams toward their quest
for a CAA title. An injury last season temporarily
sidelined Hollingsworth, and she wasn’t quite as
effective after her return, nor was the team. She is
currently dealing with a second injury, this time
to her back, but she is confident it will not affect
her play.
“I’m having a little back problem, but I’m getting
treatment, and I’m able to go 110 percent,”
she said.
Hollingsworth’s goals are big for this season
– the pre-season all-conference selection hopes to
lead her team to the CAA championship and pick
up player of the year and all-conference honors
along the way.
However, Hollingsworth has big team-oriented
goals that she thinks are already being put into
action.
“My attitude as far as the team is concerned and
my personal approach towards the team – I want
to be a motivator,” she said.
Krystal Vaughn
If there is one thing that Krystal Vaughn does
not lack, it is confidence. The senior forward thinks
confidence is the key to winning, the reason for last
season’s collapse and why she plays so well.
“During the beginning of the season our
confidence level was high. Towards the middle of
the season, we lost a couple of games, and it was
hard to gain our confidence again,” she said.
With the help of her work ethic and leadership
skills, Vaughn’s confidence enables her to envision
the Rams as CAA champions. It also helps her look
at the giants of the CAA – James Madison and Old
Dominion – as teams equal to VCU.
“I’d never look at the teams as hard to beat. It’s
nothing. I just play, but it comes to our team coming
together and being able to win,” she said.
And, it is Vaughn’s confidence that makes her
able to talk about herself and her teammates.
“Q (Quanitra Hollingsworth) and I are the
most dominating post players in the conference.
Together we cannot be stopped.”
Vaughn and Hollingsworth named to preseason All-Conference Teams
Quanitra Hollingsworth was named to the Preseason All-CAA
First Team, and Krystal Vaughn earned a spot on the Preseason
All-CAA Second Team.
Rams picked to finish fourth in CAA
“We know we can can finish better than fourth, but it’s definitely
a confidence builder that everyone else in the CAA recognizes
what we’re bringing.”
-Quanitra Hollingsworth
Kassab and Agugua join coaching staff
Curt Kassab made the move from Atlee High School after eight
seasons as the school’s girl’s basketball head coach. While there,
Kassab completed a 30-0 record en route to the state championship
in 2003, and a 24-2 record last season. Amaka Agugua starred for
Oakton High School before playing basketball at the collegiate
level for Hofstra. Agugua gained experience with the Rams last
season as a graduate assistant.
Rams to host VCU Roundball Classic
“We’re definitely excited. We’ve been waiting to do some kind
of tournament outside the season. The fact that we get to host
one is really big, and we definitely have some good teams and
good competition.”
-Quanitra Hollingsworth
Schedule
Thu., Nov. 1, vs. Virginia Union (exhibition), Siegel Center, 5 p.m.
Fri., Nov. 9, vs. Central Connecticut State, Siegel Center, 1:30 p.m.
Tue., Nov. 13, @ American, Washington, D.C., 7 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 18, @ Saint Joseph’s, Philadelphia, 2 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 25, vs. Appalachian State, Siegel Center, 2 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 1, @ East Carolina, Greenville, N.C., 2 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 5, vs. Richmond, Siegel Center, 5 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 8, vs. Radford, Siegel Center, 5 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 16, @ Georgetown, Washington, D.C., 2 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 21, @ Longwood, Farmville, 3 p.m.
*Thu., Dec. 27 vs. Morgan State, Siegel Center, 7:30 p.m.
*Fri., Dec. 28, vs. Boston or Georgia Southern, Siegel Center, 7:30 p.m.
Sun., Jan. 6, @ Northeastern, Boston, 2 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 9, vs. William and Mary, Siegel Center, 7 p.m.
Sun., Jan. 13, vs. Georgia State, Siegel Center, 2 p.m.
Thu., Jan. 17, @ Old Dominion, Norfolk, 7 p.m.
Sun., Jan. 20, @ James Madison, Harrisonburg, 2 p.m.
Thu., Jan. 24, @ UNC Wilmington, Wilmington, N.C., 7 p.m.
Sun., Jan. 27, vs. Hofstra, Siegel Center, 12 p.m.
Thu., Jan. 31, vs. Towson, Siegel Center, 7 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 3, @ George Mason, Fairfax, 2 p.m.
Thu., Feb. 7, @ Delaware, Newark, Del., 7 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 10, vs. Drexel, Siegel Center, 2 p.m.
Thu., Feb. 14, vs. UNC Wilmington, Siegel Center, 7 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 17, @ Georgia State, Atlanta, 2 p.m.
Thu., Feb. 21, vs. Old Dominion, Siegel Center, 7 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 24, @ Hofstra, Hempstead, N.Y., 12 p.m.
Thu., Feb. 28, vs. James Madison, Siegel Center, 7 p.m.
Sun., March 2, vs. Delaware, Siegel Center, 2 p.m.
Thu., March 6, @ William and Mary, Williamsburg, 7 p.m.
March 13 – March 16, @ CAA Tournament, Newark, Del., TBA
* – VCU Roundball Classic