VCU STAVES OFF HOFSTRA RALLY BEHIND KVAPILOVA
10-23-09
Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. – Freshman Michala Kvapilova (Liberec, Czech Republic) (pictured, right) smashed six of her 17 kills to help rescue Virginia Commonwealth University in a 3-2 (25-20, 25-21, 22-25, 23-25, 15-10) win over Hofstra before 1,341 Friday night at the Verizon Wireless Arena.

The Rams improved to 16-8 overall and 5-2 in Colonial Athletic Association play with the victory. VCU also maintains its hold on the fourth and final CAA Tournament spot with the win. Hofstra is 8-17 overall and 3-5 in league action.

Kvapilova, a 6-1 outside hitter, scored on six of her nine swings in the decisive fifth set and hit .556 in a 15-10 Rams’ win. VCU hit .364 in the set and never trailed.

It was a stark contrast to the previous two sets, which saw the Pride erase a 2-0 deficit. VCU hit .250 and .324 in the first and second sets, respectively, and looked primed to make short work of Hofstra. However, VCU faltered in the third and fourth sets, hitting a combined .135 as the Pride rallied to force the tiebreaker.

Also for the Rams, junior Kelsie Clegg (Boise, Idaho) ripped 15 kills and recorded five blocks, while senior Ivana Rich (Cumberland, Va.) added 12 kills and hit .333.

VCU overcame an outstanding individual performance from Hofstra’s Monica Knight. Knight led all players with 29 kills and hit .297 on the night. However, the Rams stopped the bleeding in the fifth set, when they held Knight to three kills and a .100 hitting percentage.