Sports briefs

MEN’S BASKETBALL

The Rams have been picked to win the CAA title for the second consecutive year. VCU has won the last two CAA regular-season titles. Last season, VCU won a record 16 conference games. Senior point guard Eric Maynor (Raeford, N.C./Westover) was chosen as the Preseason Player of the Year for the second year in a row. Maynor was also named to the Preseason All-CAA First Team. Last season, Maynor averaged 17.9 points and 5.5 assists a game. He also won the CAA Player of the Year Award. Sophomore Larry Sanders (Fort Pierce, Fla./Port St. Lucie) was named to the Preseason All-CAA Second Team after making the conference All-Rookie and All-Defensive Teams last season.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

After finishing last season with a 26-8 record and a WNIT berth, the Rams were picked second in the Preseason CAA Poll. They were picked second behind defending conference champion Old Dominion, who is looking to win its 18th-straight conference title. Senior center Quanitra Hollingsworth (Chesapeake/Great Bridge) was named to the Preseason All-CAA First Team. The recognition comes after a season in which Hollingsworth missed the last 11 games with an Achilles injury but still averaged 13.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. The Rams’ first game will be in the Preseason WNIT against Liberty on Friday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.

MEN’S TENNIS

Freshman Nicolas Vinel (Metz, France) reached the Round of 16 at the ITA Mideast Regional this past weekend. Vinel defeated Carlos Alvarez of Clemson (2-6, 7-5, 6-4) in the Round of 64 and Dylan Arnould of Duke (7-5, 6-1) in the Round of 32. In the Round of 16, Vinel retired due to injury to Virginia Tech’s Yoann Re. The ITA Mideast Regional was the last tournament of the fall season.

VOLLEYBALL

The Rams lost 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 26-24) to Temple this past Tuesday. The loss dropped the VCU to 12-8 for the season. Sophomore Mariel Frey (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Twp.) finished the game with eight kills and four blocks. Junior Ivana Rich (Cumberland/Cumberland) and sophomore Kelsie Clegg (Boise, Idaho/Boise Senior) each recorded five blocks. Senior Laryssa Goncalves (Curitiba, Brazil/Colegio Dom Bosco) had 13 digs, which gave her more than 1,700 for her career. She is only the third Ram to accomplish that feat. The Rams return to action on Friday, Oct. 24 when they take on George Mason.

In other news.

Junior Ivana Rich (Cumberland/Cumberland) was named CAA Player of the Week on Monday. Her play in the Rams’ comeback victory over William and Mary won her the award. Down 2-1, Rich recorded six kills, one block and one service ace over the final two sets to help VCU win the match.