Oct. 26, 2001

CINCINNATI, Ohio - Sara Bachus, the reigning Player of the Year in the Atlantic 10 Conference, led both teams with 17 kills Friday night as third-place Xavier routed visiting Rhode Island 3-0, ending the Rams' 10-match win streak and costing them the league lead in volleyball.

Xavier (18-2, 8-2), the Atlantic 10 runnerup in 2000 and preseason favorite this year, swept to a 30-10, 30-27, 30-20 victory, avenging a 3-1 loss at Rhode Island back on Sept. 29 and handing the Rams (13-8, 9-2) their first setback in five weeks.

The Rams, ranked No. 3 in the NCAA's Northeast region, slipped half a game behind Dayton (16-4, 9-1) in the Atlantic 10 race heading into a showdown for the league lead tomorrow afternoon (Oct. 27) at Dayton. The Flyers topped Massachusetts 3-0 on Friday night.

Xavier thoroughly dominated the match, ringing up a .380 hitting percentage to Rhode Island's .127. Bachus had a .583 hitting line (17-3-24), Kimberly Cockerel a .438 (9-2-16) and Andrea Meyer a .700 (7-0-10). Meyer led both teams in blocks (6) and Amanda Lang led in digs (17).

Senior middle blocker Yolanda Bogacz had a team-high nine kills for the Rams. Sophomore Mary Kate Reardon and freshman Brooke Ecklund shared the lead in digs (10).

Barring a collapse, Rhode Island, Xavier and Dayton will earn three of the four berths in the Atlantic 10 playoffs Nov. 16-18 at UMass.

Rhode I. (13-8) 10 27 20 -- 0
Xavier (18-2) 30 30 30 -- 3