WAITING TO EXHALE; VCU STAVES OFF HOFSTRA RALLY
11-14-08
Box Score

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – Sophomore Jessica Ojukwu (Sao Paulo, Brazil) provided a clutch performance, spiking four of her 15 kills in the fifth and final set to help Virginia Commonwealth University to a dramatic, 3-2 (25-19, 25-23, 22-25, 24-26, 15-13) victory over Hofstra Friday.

The victory means VCU (19-9, 10-3 CAA) has clinched at least the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Colonial Athletic Association Tournament. It also gives the Rams a shot at the top seed and the right to host the championship when it meets first place Northeastern Sunday at 1 p.m. in Boston, Mass.

In order for VCU to capture the No. 1 seed, the Rams would need to sweep the Huskies Sunday and do so by a difference of no less than 14 points over those three sets.

Ojukwu came up big when it mattered most Friday, blasting four kills in five attempts to help the Rams secure a 15-13 win in the fifth set. VCU hit .500 in the frame as a team, committing just one hitting error. Late in the set, sophomore Lenka Melicharkova (Zlin, Czech Republic) fired two service aces over a three-play span to push the Rams ahead, 12-9.

After storming to a 2-0 lead in the match, Hofstra (16-13, 8-5 CAA) pulled even with 25-22 and 26-24 victories. 

In all, there were 40 ties and 12 lead changes in the contest.

Senior Elisa Kuehnel (Dresden, Germany) added 16 kills and hit .361, while freshman Marketa Janeckova (Olomouc, Czech Republic) chipped in with 14 kills, 10 digs and three blocks for VCU, which hit .285 on the night.

The Pride’s Harmonie Calinda hit .371 with a match-high 17 kills and nine digs, and Lauren Engle contributed 16 kills.