Scouting Report: VCU vs. St. Louis
VCU’s women’s volleyball will face off against Saint Louis University on Sept. 22 in St. Louis, Missouri.
The CT Sports staff chose their notable players for this matchup.
VCU Rams
Alexis Washington, Contributing Writer
Kialah Jefferson – The junior outside hitter has been dominating in the lead for kills. She has been the leader for kills the past three games and leader in points two out of the last three games. This season alone, Jefferson has met her season high with 23 kills against California Polytechnic State University, according to VCU athletics. Her ability to kill the ball is nothing new to VCU. Last season, she recorded multiple double-digit kills games, including her final four contests of the season in a row, according to VCU athletics. In the team’s last matchup against James Madison University, she had the most attacks, with 32, according to stat-broadcast. Jefferson is a well-rounded player by attacking and killing the net.
Kyler Gilliam, Contributing Writer
Jasmine Knight – The senior middle blocker is currently one of the top defensive performers this season for the Rams. She is the team leader in blocks this season, with a total of 23. She’s building off her junior campaign where she had 112 blocks and her second consecutive season with 100 or more total blocks, according to VCU athletics. She reached her season high in blocks against Cal Poly with seven and is coming off a season high in kills with 11 against Eastern Kentucky, according to VCU athletics. Knight will be a defensive key for the Rams in their upcoming match against Saint Louis.
Saint Louis Billikens
Nathaniel Semunegus, Contributing Writer
Emily Henken – In her senior year, outside hitter Emily Henken currently leads her team in kills with 150 so far this season. In a matchup against New Mexico State, she led the team with 18 kills in a 3-1 loss. Last season, she registered 14 double digit kill matches and six double-doubles on the season, a two-time Atlantic-10 player of the week winner, and ranked 10th in kills per set (2.81), according to the Saint Louis Billikens. She is currently on a six-match double digit kill streak and has reached double digit kills in nine of her first 11 matches of the season.
Andrew McGhan, Contributing Writer
Delaney Rice – The senior right side hitter is currently second on her team in kills with 135 and second in points with 153. The only player ahead of her in kills and points is Emily Henken. Over the last five matches, Rice has scored 10-plus kills, according to St. Louis athletics. Rice so far in the season has seven games where she went over double-digit kills. Last season Rice tied her career high in kills with 18 against VCU, according to St. Louis athletics. She also scored 15 kills in the second match against VCU.