RAMS ON VERGE OF CAA TOURNEY BID AFTER 3-1 WIN OVER TRIBE
11-03-06
Box Score

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Senior Ludmila Francescatto (Fraiburga, Brazil) and sophomore Ana Luiza Bernardes de Borja (Florianopolis, Brazil) (pictured) combined for 41 kills and 40 digs and Virginia Commonwealth University closed in on a Colonial Athletic Association Tournament bid with a 3-1 (30-14, 28-30, 30-18, 3-26) defeat of William & Mary Friday at Kaplan Arena.

The victory improves VCU 14-12 overall and 8-8 in the CAA. It is the first time the Rams have swept the season series from William & Mary since 2002 and puts the defending champs within striking distance of a spot in the conference tourney for the second straight year. The Tribe fall to 10-14 overall and 6-10 in the league, eliminating them from playoff contention.

Georgia State still has a shot at catching the Rams’ by virtue of its 3-2 win over Delaware Friday. GSU, 6-9 in the league, would have to win its remaining three matches over Towson, Northeastern and Hofstra and have VCU lose its final two, to claim the league’s remaining berth. VCU owns the tiebreaker over Georgia State. The Panthers could also catch Delaware or Northeastern, if either loses its remaining three matches.

De Borja spearheaded the VCU attack Friday, crushing a match-high 21 kills with 18 digs and three blocks. She also hit .261 for the match. Francescatto added 20 kills, 22 kills, two blocks, two aces and hit .283.

With the 20 kills, Francescatto vaulted into a third-place tie with herself on the Black and Gold’s single-season kills list with 417. Shannon McMeekin is second with 461 kills in 1993, and Jonnie Stone holds the school record with 513 in 1990. She also needs 18 kills to tie Stone for fifth place on VCU’s career list.

The Rams won the battle at the net, out blocking William & Mary 15.0 to 6.0. The Black and Gold hit .387, compared to the Tribe’s -.071 in the first game, a 30-14 VCU drubbing, and never looked back. William & Mary hit just .080 for the contest.

Senior middle blocker Renata Salvatori (Londrina, Brazil) also had an outstanding match for the Rams, hitting .562 with 10 kill and seven blocks. Sophomore setter Cat Juson (Long Beach Calif.) doled out 63 assists, and average of 15.75 per game.

Abbi Owens led William & Mary with 14 kills, while Sarah Long added 13.

VCU returns to play on Friday, Nov. 10 when it hits the road to face Towson at 7:30 p.m.