“VCU’s had a really good year,” Dayton coach Tim Horsmon said Wednesday. “Both of us are dead square on the bubble. I think a win this weekend could give either of our programs a chance to get in if we don’t win (the Atlantic 10 tournament) the following week. It’ll be an interesting two weeks to see what happens for A-10 volleyball, and hopefully,we have a shot to get two teams in.”
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The A-10 regular-season championship will also be on the line Sunday. Dayton and VCU are 12-0 entering the weekend. The Flyers first have to play Davidson (5-7, 10-15) at 7 p.m. Friday at the Frericks Center, while VCU (15-10, 9-3) plays at Saint Louis at 7 p.m. Friday.
Dayton lost to VCU twice in the regular season a year ago before beating the Rams 3-2 in the A-10 championship at VCU's Siegel Center in Richmond, Va.'
“It’s become a pretty good match and a pretty good rivalry,” Horsmon said. “Obviously Friday we have to play Davidson first to get to that point, but we’re excited to play both teams.”
Since A-10 play began, Dayton (19-7 overall) has lost only to Cincinnati (22-5), 3-1 on Oct. 30. The Bearcats rank 25th in the RPI. Horsmon said it was a revealing loss and the Flyers didn’t play well.
“I think we probably got out-coached,” he said. “Our team wasn’t as prepared as their team for it. We just weren’t ready for that moment. We played against a really good volleyball player in Jordan Thompson, who could be one of the starting outside hitters for our national team within the year. We did a solid job against her, but just the little things we weren’t good enough at. We didn’t follow the game plan. We didn’t compete at a high enough level. I think that’s something we’ve been addressing the last couple weeks and hoping that shows in the next couple weeks.”
Weekly award: Dayton swept the A-10 awards this week with Jamie Peterson winning the player of the week award, Olivia Dubay winning the defensive player award and Amelia Moore winning the rookie award.
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Peterson, a redshirt sophomore outside hitter from West Liberty-Salem, has won the player of the week award six times.
“I’m proud of her,” Horsmon said. “She’s really had to endure a lot the last couple of years with her shoulder surgery and sitting out and going through a year of not being able to play and having Carter, her son. I know that’s tough, having to figure out how to be a mom and go to college, which would be difficult in itself but adding on playing volleyball at a really high level. She’s taken on a lot and grown up a lot. We’re proud of her. She really worked and had a great attitude. She’s worked hard and had a great attitude. It’s great to see her back playing volleyball, but she’s a great mom as well.”
Men's soccer: The No. 3 seed Flyers (12-7) beat No. 6 seed La Salle 4-0 on Sunday and will play No. 2 seed VCU at 4 p.m. Friday in the A-10 tournament semifinals in Bronx, N.Y. The winner will play No. 1 seed Rhode Island or No. 5 seed Fordham at noon Sunday.
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