RICHMOND, Va. – Their first game was never going to be easy on the road against a VCU side that had nine wins coming into Friday, but the Explorers embraced the fight. Down two sets and on the brink of falling 3-0, they took the next two on the Rams' court to force a fifth set. VCU (10-5) managed to beat La Salle (5-7) to 15 and take the game, but there were impressive showings across the board for the Blue & Gold, headlined by redshirt freshman Sarah Nahas tallying career-highs in assists (29) and digs (12) for her first collegiate double-double.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The game began closely contested with the biggest lead in the early going a 10-8 advantage for the Rams. The Explorers tied the score up, but VCU would go on the first run of the game with a 9-3 spark. The Blue & Gold answered back with a 5-1 rally of its own to close to within two. VCU then maintained a slight edge by scoring four to La Salle's three and had set point up 24-21. A kill by senior Catherine Edgington and a VCU attack error made things interesting, but the Rams' found a kill to take the set.
• La Salle got on the front foot with a 5-3 start to the second, but VCU answered back and then some with an 11-3 run. La Salle found a point, but the home side continued to apply the pressure with a 6-2 streak. Down 20-12, the Explorers could muster a few more points but VCU took the set.
• The third began tightly, but once VCU jumped to a 11-6 lead, it seemed the Explorers would concede. Instead, they mirrored the Rams' start with a 11-6 run of their own and tied things up at 17-17. The home team would score the next point, but La Salle would get three; VCU would hit for two, but the Explorers responded with four. Up 24-20, VCU rattled off three straight, but a kill from senior Devin Corah gave La Salle a lifeline.
• The fourth was all La Salle through the first half as the visitors leapt out to a 14-7 start. VCU got within four, but an 8-3 Explorers' jaunt put things at 21-12 to the away team. The Rams' narrowed the score to 23-16, but a pair of kills by junior Samantha Graver handed La Salle the fourth set and tied the game up at 2-2.
• The Blue & Gold began the definitive frame brightly by going up 3-2. Perhaps with the home fans on their side, the Rams answered with an 8-3 run. La Salle scored twice to close within 10-8, but four straight for the home team gave VCU game point up 14-8. Two errors gave La Salle life down 14-10, but the Rams killed the game off.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Nahas led all players with her assist tally. She was followed by senior Kathryn Wood who had a double-double herself, recording 14 assists and 16 digs.
• Graver was the third Explorer with a double-double in this game; she led all players with 21 kills and added 13 digs.
• Sophomore Elizabeth Osborn and Corah were the other La Salle players with double-digit kills, going for 15 and 12 respectively.
• Fresh reminder: The rookies made themselves known again. Marisa Guisti had a team-high five block, while classmate Rachel Hess tallied 12 digs and a pair of aces.
• The Explorers out-killed and out-assisted the Rams, but couldn't convert on their marked disparity in total attempts--La Salle had 174 to VCU's 154.

UP NEXT

• The Explorers remain on the road for a matchup with Davidson. They'll play the Wildcats on Sunday at 1 p.m.