UMBC

Freshman outside hitter Juanita Mitchell (15 kills) and sophomore hitter Laura Heffner (16 kills) combined for 31 kills, leading the VCU Rams to a 30-25, 25-30, 30-25, 30-24, victory against the host UMBC Retrievers, in the opening game of the UMBC Retriever Invitational, Friday evening at UMBC RAC Arena.VCU (3-6) hit .323 in the opening game as Heffner recorded 6 kills and 6 digs. UMBC (5-4) recorded 6 service errors. The Retrievers, who have now dropped four straight matches, evened the contest at 1-1 after holding the Rams to a -.182 hitting percentage. Freshman outside hitter Julia Waclawiak recorded a game-high 6 kills and sophomore Jennifer Davis added 4 put aways. VCU reclaimed the lead for good in game three as Heffner delivered a game-high 5 kills and 8 digs. The Rams held UMBC to a .098 hitting percentage in the fourth and final game and Mitchell recorded a game-high 6 kills and hit .455.UMBC outhit VCU by a .144-.120 margin in the match, but the Retrievers hurt themselves with 10 service errors and 12 ball handling errors compared to the Rams 7 service errors and 2 ball handling errors. VCU also recorded 11 blocks compared to 5 by UMBC.Davis led UMBC with 14 kills and hit .429 for the match. Waclawiak added 12 kills and 11 digs, and classmate Tauna Woolery added a team-high 18 digs.