Oct. 19, 2001

KINGSTON, R.I. - Sophomore middle blocker Michelle Fulton came through with season highs in kills (18) and hitting percentage (.467) Friday night as host Rhode Island regained the Atlantic 10 Conference lead by fighting off last-place LaSalle 3-1 for its ninth straight win and 12th in its last 13 matches.

The Rams (12-7, 8-1), ranked No. 3 in the NCAA's Northeast region, ran their all-time record to 14-0 against LaSalle (8-15, 0-9) despite losing the second game in a 30-27, 30-32, 30-20, 30-21 victory. They'd dropped only one of the previous 39 games in the series.

The Rams took back sole possession of first place in the Atlantic 10 by half a game over Dayton, which had a non-league date at Fairfield. Tomorrow night (Oct. 20) they tangle with Temple, the team responsible for their only loss since Sept. 7.

Fulton, second in the league in blocks, led all players with five and put up the second-highest totals of her career in kills and kill percentage. Her two clutch solo blocks late in the first game helped Rhode Island run off four straight points and open up a decisive 27-22 lead.

LaSalle freshman Lauren Woods almost stole that first game with a sizzling .643 hitting line (9-0-14) and wound up leading both teams with 19 kills. Senior outside hitter Kristin Russo, the conference Player of the Week for Oct. 8-14, had 13 kills and a team-high 14 digs for the Explorers.

LaSalle blew a 19-11 lead in the second game and fell behind 30-28 before scoring the last four points to pull it out 32-30. Woods tied it with a service ace, and Russo followed up with two straight kills.

The Explorers led 8-6 in the third game when Rhode Island took charge with a pivotal 10-point run, including two aces by senior middle blocker Yolanda Bogacz. Bogacz wound up with 11 kills, 12 digs and a .381 hitting line, her fourth straight .300-plus match.

After the 10-point flurry, LaSalle never got closer than eight points in the third game, and the Explorers went down easily in the fourth after Rhode Island ran off six straight points to open up a 13-6 bulge. Sophomore outside hitter Amy Kauppila served up three aces during the run and led both teams with 16 digs on the night.

Freshman outside hitter Brooke Ecklund put up 14 kills and 10 digs, her fifth double-double in six games. Meanwhile junior setter Juliana Valencia led both teams with four aces and contributed 53 assists and a career-high .857 hitting line (6-0-7).

LaSalle (8-15) 27 32 20 21 -- 1
Rhode I. (12-7) 30 30 30 30 -- 3