As October closes, volleyball still in the hunt
As the month of October draws to a close, the VCU women’s volleyball team has held their own despite surrendering their three-game winning streak to Rhode Island University 3-2 on Friday, Oct. 24. Still, the team has won five out of eight games throughout the month, keeping head coach Jody Rodger’s team in the hunt.
Jennifer Werling
Contributing Writer
As the month of October draws to a close, the VCU women’s volleyball team has held their own despite surrendering their three-game winning streak to Rhode Island University 3-2 on Friday, Oct. 24. Still, the team has won five out of eight games throughout the month, keeping head coach Jody Rodger’s team in the hunt.
Against URI, both teams traded back and forth set victories before entering the deciding fifth set. VCU leaped ahead with an 8-5 advantage before URI took nine of the next 10 match points. VCU would respond by scoring the next three points before URI cut the comeback rally short, denying the Rams their 13th win of the season.
Despite the loss, senior Janelle Sykes posted a career-high 22 kills and senior Cecilia Aragao accounted for 53 assists.
Though the team has enjoyed great success this season, Rodgers said she feels there’s still more work to be done.
“We have more to do to be better as a group, and tomorrow is a new day to the start of the process,” Rodgers said.
Prior to the loss, the Rams faced off against Atlantic 10 challenger George Washington University, who before the Oct. 19 encounter were 5-1 in A-10 conference play. VCU’s record was 4-2.
Set one was evenly played throughout, then the Rams went on a four-point tear, eventually winning the set 25-20. Junior starter Kalah Jones had six kills. Aragao had 16 assists in set one, and 37 total in the match.
Set two was more of a nail-biter as the Rams barely edged out the Colonials 22-25. Aragao gave VCU the match point. Both Jones and freshman Jessica Young had eight kills.
Set three was dominated once again by the Rams. They powered through GW to complete the sweep and improve their record in the A-10 to 5-2, and a then-overall record of 12-9. Jones shined once again with 13 kills. This season alone, she has accounted for 245 kills, 91 of them registered in conference games.
The win improved VCU to a 6-1 record in home games at the Siegel Center this season.
Jones spoke on how they prepared for this game against such a bitter rival.
“We came in with the mindset that we had to beat them,” Jones said. “It was one of those games where we had to win for us to move up in the standings.”
