Oct. 13, 2001

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Senior middle blocker Yolanda Bogacz led the team in hitting percentage (.400) and blocks (6) Saturday night as Rhode Island, ranked No. 3 in the Northeast region, moved back into the Atlantic 10 Conference volleyball lead by decking host Duquesne 3-1.

Bogacz blasted 14 kills with only two errors, leading the Rams (10-7, 7-1) to their seventh straight win and their 10th in 11 matches since opening the season 0-6 against a minefield of an early schedule. They slid back into first place by half a game over Dayton, which visits George Washington tomorrow (Oct. 14).

The Rams, who won only three league matches while going 6-20 last year, stumbled in the second game but pulled it together to down Duquesne 30-26, 21-30, 30-24, 30-25. The Dukes (11-6, 4-4) wasted a match-high 17 kills and 13 digs by Brooke Saunders in losing their 16th straight against the Rams.

Two Rhode Island players helped do in the Dukes with double-doubles. Sophomore outside hitter Amy Kauppila led the Rams with 15 kills, came up with 14 digs and put up a .300 hitting line (15-3-40). Freshman Brooke Ecklund contributed 12 kills and led all players with 19 digs, her fifth team high in six matches.

Sophomore right-side hitter Mary Kate Reardon came through with a .333 hitting line (13-2-33) and a team-high three service aces. In her last match, she had a career-high seven aces against UMass.

Duquesne (11-6) 26 30 24 25 -- 1
Rhode Isl. (10-7) 30 21 30 30 -- 3