VCU CRUSHES HAMPTON IN HOME OPENER, 3-0
9-6-06
Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University sophomore outside hitter Ana Luiza Bernardes de Borja (Florianopolis, Brazil/Colegio Geracao) ripped 11 kills and the Rams booked season highs in hitting percentage and aces in a 30-11, 30-11, 30-14 drubbing of Hampton Wednesday at the Alltel Pavilion at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.

VCU improves to 4-3 with the win and is 24-0 all time versus the Lady Pirates. Hampton slips to 1-4.

De Borja led the Rams’ well-balanced attack, hitting .474 for the match while kicking in two aces and two blocks. Junior outside hitter Erin Burnette (Providence Forge, Va./Troy State) (pictured) logged eight kills and hit .462 for the Black and Gold.

VCU hit .451 for the contest, its best since a .482 mark against Hampton Sept. 7, 2002. Meanwhile, the Rams limited Hampton to a -.238 hitting percentage and eight total kills for the match.

In addition, senior middle blocker Renata Salvatori (Londrina, Brazil/Arizona Western College) served up a career-high six aces. VCU finished with 12 aces on the day.

Morgan Williams and Ese Ighedosa had three kills each for the Lady Pirates.

VCU kicks off its 2006 Colonial Athletic Association schedule this weekend. On Friday, Sept. 8, the Rams head to UNC Wilmington for a 7 p.m. match with the Seahawks. The Black and Gold then head to Atlanta, Ga. on Sunday, Sept. 10 for a 2 p.m. tilt with Georgia State.