PHILADELPHIA – La Salle (10-11, 4-5) took on one of the top teams in the conference on Sunday, falling to VCU (17-5, 8-0) in three sets. Senior Kathryn Wood recorded her 12th double-double of the season and classmate Catherine Edgington extender her double-digit kill streak to six games.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The two teams were at a standstill early. La Salle made the first run with three straight points to give it a 10-9 lead, which VCU answered back with a 9-4 stretch. The Explorers remained close, however, and would eventually retake the lead at 24-23. This began a period where both teams would be facing set point on multiple occasions. VCU scored twice to go up 25-24, La Salle tallied a pair to take a 26-25 lead, VCU answered, La Salle scored again to go up 27-26, VCU scored twice to make it 28-27, La Salle equalized, VCU pulled in front, La Salle brought it back and then the Rams tallied twice to finally take the first set 31-29.
• The Explorers recorded the first three points of the second frame, followed by a 10-5 run from VCU. La Salle reeled back the score twice, but the Rams would succeed in creating some separation up 19-16. Again, La Salle evened the score and a late 4-2 jaunt positioned it with set point up 24-23. The Rams responded with three points to take a 2-0 lead.
• The away side began the third set strongly, scoring the first six points. Its lead eventually ballooned to 15-3, but La Salle would find an answer. The Blue & Gold began by tallying four of the next five, which VCU responded by taking five of the next six and leading 21-8. An 8-1 flurry from the Explorers brought them within six, VCU extended its advantage to eight and had set point. Four straight points for La Salle wasn't enough after that as the Rams took the set and match with a kill.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Despite the loss, the Explorers moved into sixth place in conference standings as Duquesne lost both of its games this weekend.
• Junior Samantha Graver led all players with 16 kills, joined in double-digit kills by Edgington on 11.
• Freshman Rachel Hess finished with a game-high 13 digs, one more than Wood on 12.
• Wood watch: She paired her baker's dozen of digs with 36 assists, putting her career mark at 4,163—146 away from tying the all-time record.
• La Salle's number three also tallied a game-high three aces, all of which came in the space of four points.
• The Explorers held a slight edge in kills and aces, while out-assisting the visitors 42-37 and tallying 14 more digs.

UP NEXT

• La Salle has a great chance to climb the standings against a pair of teams towards the bottom of the A-10, travelling to Rhode Island (ninth) on Friday and Fordham (eighth) on Sunday.