RICHMOND, Va. – Delaney Rice posted a .393 hitting percentage and a team-high 13 kills to lead Saint Louis in a 3-0 Atlantic 10 Conference loss to VCU Saturday afternoon.
 
The Billikens fell to 8-11 overall and 3-4 in the A-10, while VCU improved to 7-8, 5-2.
 
Rice added four blocks as SLU out-blocked VCU 9-7. Trinity Luckett tied for match-high honors with five blocks, and Kayla Jansen added four.
 
Carlie Rodgers led the Billikens with 10 digs, while Addy Brus collected nine kills and seven digs. Abby Lynn chipped in 16 assists, three service aces and six digs.
 
VCU def. Saint Louis 26-24, 25-19, 25-20
Set 1 – An 11-3 Saint Louis run turned a 10-5 deficit into a 16-13 lead. After VCU turned the tables with an 11-4 spurt to lead 24-20, SLU rattled off four straight points to pull even. But the Rams managed to score the last two points to capture the set.
 
Set 2 – VCU went in front for good at 3-2 and gradually built its lead to five points at 17-12. Saint Louis narrowed the gap to two on three occasions, the last time 19-17, but VCU closed the frame with a 6-2 spurt.
 
Set 3 – VCU built a 12-8 advantage following six early deadlocks, but SLU bounced back with a 5-1 run for a 13-13 stalemate. Four more ties ensued before a 5-0 flurry made it 22-17 VCU, and the Rams maintained control the rest of the way.
 
The Billikens host Davidson Friday (4 p.m.) and Saturday (2 p.m.), Oct. 18-19.