Score: VCU 3, Duquesne 2 (23-25, 25-22, 25-23, 24-26, 15-12)
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. (UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse)
Records: VCU 15-8 (13-2 Atlantic 10), Duquesne 13-14 (4-11)
 
The short story: Two-time reigning Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Week Lara Del Core rang up a team-high 18 kills as VCU pulled out a five-set thriller Friday for its 11^th consecutive victory.
 
OPENING VOLLEY

• Del Core, a 6-foot-2 freshman, hit .268 on 41 attempts and also registered three service aces
• Junior opposite Julia Rienks added 15 kills, while hitting .345, and six blocks to the VCU effort, while classmate and fellow outside Kalina Pylinska spiked 17 kills and served up two aces
• Graduate middle blocker Jasmine Knight supplied 13 kills and five blocks, including the 500^th of her decorated VCU career
• Setters Taylor Aguano and Abby Edwards combined for 56 assists as VCU hit .300 on the night
• Elizabeth Dreiling led all players with 19 kills for Duquesne

THE DIFFERENCE

• Del Core ripped five kills on nine swings in the fifth-set tiebreaker to spark VCU. She and Rienks combined on back-to-back kills to push VCU ahead 12-10 in the fifth. A short time later, Knight recorded consecutive kills, and Del Core clinched the match with her 18^th of the night on the final play
• VCU combined to hit .381 in the fifth and committed just two errors in the frame
• The Rams edged the Dukes in blocks (12-11), digs (54-52) and aces (7-5)
• Rienks helped push the Black and Gold out to a 2-1 lead in the match when she ripped six kills in the third on the way to a 25-23 VCU win

NOTABLE

• Knight is just the third player in school history to cross the 500-block threshold. She trails only Jasmin Sneed (692) and Tori Baldwin (519) on the program's career list
• VCU has won 15 of 16 against Duquesne 

NEXT UP
VCU and Duquesne will close out the weekend with a match on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 4 p.m. in Pittsburgh, Pa.