Women’s volleyball still on fire; win sixth straight

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The VCU’s women’s volleyball team made easy work of conference rivals Saint Louis University on Friday, Oct. 3, extending their winning streak to six games.

Jennifer Werling
Contributing Writer

Senior Janelle Sykes spikes a ball against University of North Carolina in the Carolina Classic on Saturday, Sept. 13. The team has now won six straight games since the UNC defeat. Photo courtesy of VCU Athletics

The VCU’s women’s volleyball team made easy work of conference rivals Saint Louis University on Friday, Oct. 3, extending their winning streak to six games.

SLU entered the contest with a better record of 12-4 record, however both teams remained even in the conference play, boasting unbeaten records in the Atlantic 10. Entering the game with a record of .500, VCU easily took set one 25-12, with senior starter Cecelia Aragao assisting on nine kills. Aragao leads the team with 488 assists on the season, averaging 9.5 assists a set. Head coach Jody Rodgers’s team won the second set by a smaller margin of 25-20. Jessica Young and Nora Reed led the set with four and five kills, respectively.

Up 2-0 in the match, SLU brought things closer, winning the third set 26-24 but the comeback rally by SLU fell short. In the fourth set, both teams battled back and forth, but VCU prevailed, winning the match 30-28 en route to their eighth win of the season. Freshmen Jessica Young had 19 kills on the night, edging out junior teammate Kalah Jones who had 14 kills total. Aragao added 38 assists to her total, and accounted for four blocks in the game.

Rodger’s team is now one of three undefeated in Atlantic-10 conference play, alongside George Washington and Dayton University whom they played on Sunday, Oct. 3.

Afterwards, Rodgers reflected on the early troubles of the season and how since then, the team has turned things around.

“That’s why we play a tough non-conference schedule,” Rodgers said. “I want the girls to be uncomfortable. It’s how you get to know each other and how you grow. You’re seeing that pay off in these matches.”

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