University of Dayton Athletics

RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Dayton volleyball team made the comeback to win over VCU at the Siegel Center in five sets on Saturday afternoon (24-26, 23-25, 25-21, 26-24, 15-7).

The Flyers wrap up the regular season with a 23-8 overall record, going 15-3 in the Atlantic 10. Dayton will be the No. 1 seed in the A10 Tournament next weekend.

Trailing 13-11 in the first set, Dayton took a 16-13 lead with a five-point run. Sophomore Charlotte Vinson began the side-out with a kill, with a trio of attack errors for VCU giving the Flyers the lead. Vinson partnered with junior Abigail Cresse for a block assist before the run ended. The Rams tied the set at 19-all, forcing the set to remain tied until they took the set in extra points.

In set two, Hunt tied the set at nine apiece to begin a four-point run. After a block for Vinson and freshman Ava Liening, Vinson picked up another kill. Dayton took a 12-9 lead on an attack error by VCU, drawing a timeout from the Rams. VCU was able to take as much as a three-point lead late in the set, but Dayton held close before the home team took a two-set lead.

The Flyers took advantage of errors by VCU in the third set, leading by as much as five points throughout the frame. With the score at 22-20, Vinson and Cresse each earned kills to bring up set point. After a block for VCU, Hunt tallied her 14th kill of the day to win the third set.

Dayton trailed the Rams by seven throughout set four. At 23-19, UD earned the side-out on an attack error for VCU. Graduate Kaleigh Meritt and freshman Natalie Harrington earned kills to put the set within one at 23-22. Despite it being match point for VCU, the Flyers went on a four-point tear with kills for Meritt and Hunt, forcing a fifth set on an ace for Harrington.

The Flyers' momentum remained in the fifth set, opening on a five-point run, featuring three blocks for Cresse, one solo and assists with Sprada and Vinson, a kill for Harrington and an attack error. After a kill for VCU, Dayton went on another five-point run with a service error, three consecutive aces for Sprada and a kill for Hunt. The Rams mounted a comeback, cutting the lead to five at 12-7, but Hunt recorded a kill and back-to-back aces to pull out the win for Dayton.

BY THE NUMBERS
21 – Kills for Kamryn Hunt, tying her season high

.778 – Attack percentage for Ava Liening, going 7-for-9 with no errors in the middle

4 – Service aces for Sidney Sprada, leading the Flyers and contributing to Dayton's nine aces

7 – Total blocks for Abigail Cresse with two solo blocks and five block assists

3 – Flyers with double-digit kills: Hunt (21), Charlotte Vinson (14) and Kaleigh Meritt (10)

UP NEXT
Dayton will start in the semifinal round of the Atlantic 10 Championship on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 1 p.m. ET.