The Mountaineers Down the Rams in Four Sets in its First Match of the West Virginia Invitational

Thursday, September 10

Morgantown, W.Va.

5 p.m.

West Virginia University

4-1,0-0Big 12

VCU

1-4,0-0Atlantic 10

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
VCU	12	27	18	23	1
West Virginia	25	25	25	25	3

Trinity Sheridan celebrates after knocking off VCU in the West Virginia Invitational

The Mountaineers Down the Rams in Four Sets in its First Match of the West Virginia Invitational

September 10, 2026 08:45 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Season Stats

By: Farris Murad

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University volleyball team (4-1, 0-0 Big 12) rallied in the fourth set to earn a 3-1 victory over VCU (1-4, 0-0 Atlantic 10) on Thursday evening at Hope Coliseum. The Mountaineers took the match by set scores of 25-12, 25-27, 25-18 and 25-23.

With the win, West Virginia has won 19 of its last 20 nonconference contests, dating back to 2024.

Senior setter Alexis Finnvold eclipsed the 1,500-career-assist mark in the match, recording the milestone on a back set to senior outside hitter Nina Horning in the third set.

WVU hit .314 as a team for the match, including a .389 clip in the fourth set, while limiting VCU to a .185 hitting percentage.

West Virginia jumped out to a strong start in the opening set, hitting .300 while holding VCU to a -.083 attack percentage. The Mountaineers used a 7-0 run midway through the frame to take a 19-11 advantage before closing out the set, 25-12.

VCU responded in the second set, jumping out to a 6-1 lead and maintaining its advantage throughout the frame. The Mountaineers battled back to tie the score three times at 19, 24 and 25, but VCU scored the final two points to claim the set, 27-25, and even the match at 1-1.

WVU regained control in the third set. After VCU opened with a 7-2 lead, the Mountaineers battled back to tie the score at nine and used a 9-2 run to build a 14-11 advantage. West Virginia maintained its lead the rest of the way, closing out the set, 25-18.

The Mountaineers faced an early 17-9 deficit in the fourth set before a WVU timeout sparked a momentum shift. West Virginia responded with a 10-2 run to even the frame at 19. The Mountaineers took a 23-22 lead before VCU tied the set at 23. Horning followed with a kill to give WVU match point, and an attack error by VCU sealed the 25-23 victory.

Senior opposite Trinity Sheridan led the Mountaineers offensively with 14 kills while hitting a season-best .480 for the match. Sophomore outside hitter Anna Barr and freshman outside hitter Macie Smith each added 12 kills, while senior middle blocker Maddy McGath recorded 10 kills on 14 attempts for a .643 hitting percentage. Horning contributed 10 kills, while freshman middle blocker Mirjam Karoline Kask added four kills while hitting .400.

Freshman setter Lauren Duncan and Finnvold paced the Mountaineers with 26 and 25 assists, respectively. Freshman defensive specialist/libero Reagan Turk led WVU defensively with 16 digs in her second start. McGath led the Mountaineers at the net with five blocks, including one solo, as WVU finished with seven total team blocks.

West Virginia extends the all-time series with VCU to 10-1, dating back to 1979.

The Mountaineers return to action Friday, Sept. 11, for two matches as part of the West Virginia Invitational. WVU will square off with Lehigh at 11 a.m. ET before rounding out the week against Toledo at 7 p.m.

For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUVolleyball on Facebook, Instagram and X.