Last season Virginia Tech swept VCU Volleyball out of Blacksburg 3-0. The Rams avenged that setback by denying the Hokies at the net all night long on Tuesday at the Siegel Center.
Delays and miscues went against the Black & Gold to begin the night. Set 1 went in favor of Virginia Tech 22-17 with VCU committing 7 attacking errors and 5 service errors. The Rams scored a handful of kills but the deficit was too great in the opening act.
VCU flipped the script on the Hokies to tie the match at 1-1. The Rams were led by the plyometric blocker known as Jasmin Sneed with 7 total blocks. Sneed combined with Gina Tuzzolo on offense to co-lead VCU with 6 kills before the break. A Black & Gold blockade at the net locked the Hokies out of set 2. 9 blocks for VCU led to the 25-19 victory.
Set 3 was back and forth duel at the net. VCU remained strong at the net with denials Jaelyn Jackson and Kat Young alongside Sneed. Paula Neciporuka broke Set 3 open for VCU with a service ace and Vicky Giommarini added a second. Dajah Arh and Madalon Simpson dug deep to give VCU life by denying the Hokies chances throughout Set 3.
The Black & Gold mustered a 4-0 run late thanks to a kill/block combo putting VCU ahead 22-17. Jackson finished the set at 25-19 with the final kill for VCU.
Virginia Tech couldn’t find the answer against the Rams in the final set of the night. Giommarini continued her warpath from Set 3 into the next set to lead VCU with 13 kills. Sneed nearly got a double-double against the Hokies with 10 kills and 8 blocks. Neciporuka and Tuzzolo added 11 kills each to VCU’s 58 kill tally against Virginia Tech on Tuesday night.
Rams left the court with a 3-1 victory over their ACC rival at the Siegel Center. VCU Volleyball goes back above .500 at 5-3 on the season. Next up for the Rams is the Wichita State Invitational on Friday, September 13th.
