VCU STREAK AT FOUR AFTER SPOTLESS DAY AT PITT INVITATIONAL
9-19-08
VCU 3, Eastern Michigan 1 (Box Score)
VCU 3, Gonzaga 2 (Box Score)

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Sophmore Ivana Rich (Cumberland, Va.) averaged more than two kills and two blocks per game to spur Virginia Commonwealth University to its longest winning streak in more than three years with victories over Eastern Michigan and Gonzaga Friday at the Pitt Invitational.

The Rams have won four straight to improve to 7-4 on the year. VCU last won four consecutive matches Nov. 11-20, 2005.

VCU was strong up front all day, as the Rams averaged 3.67 blocks per game. Rich hit .410 on the day in nine sets, while senior Elisa Kuehnel (Dresden, Germany) hit .300 with 2.56 kills per game.

Here is a recap of each match:

VCU 3, Eastern Michigan 1 (25-15, 25-23, 21-25, 25-14)
Kuehnel turned in one of her best performances of the year, hitting .500 with 12 kills.

VCU hit .286 as a team, including .571 in the fourth set alone.

Senior Laryssa Goncalves (Curitiba, Brazil) collected 26 digs, while sophomore Kelsie Clegg (Boise, Idaho) and Rich logged seven blocks apiece. The Rams out-blocked Eastern Michigan, 15-7.

Hayvolla Leite sparked the Eagles (5-7) with 14 kills and three blocks.

VCU 3, Gonzaga 2 (24-26, 25-22, 25-15, 25-16, 15-4)
Rich and sophomore Mariel Frey (Lititz, Pa.) had four blocks each in the fifth set as VCU fought off plucky Gonzaga (6-8).

Following a wire-to-wire Bulldog victory in set four, the Rams hit .538 on the way to a 15-4 rout in the decisive frame.

Rich was a dominant force all match, registering a career-high 11 total blocks. VCU had 18.0 blocks in the match, compared to 10.0 for Gonzaga.

Sophomore Ariel Newman (Greensboro, N.C.) provided a match-high 17 kills, as well as 11 digs for the Rams. Kuehnel and Rich had 11 kills each.

Elaina Renius ripped 17 kills for the Bulldogs.

VCU returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 20 when it meets host Pitt at 11 a.m. in Pittsburgh.