Nov. 3, 2001

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Freshman Brooke Ecklund and senior Yolanda Bogacz led the attack and junior setter Juliana Valencia shone on defense Saturday night as visiting Rhode Island pounded George Washington 3-0, snapping a three-match losing skid and nearing an Atlantic 10 volleyball playoff berth.

Ecklund led both teams with 15 kills and Bogacz rang up a .368 hitting percentage (10-3-19) as the Rams (14-10, 10-4) swept to a 30-28, 30-21, 30-21 victory and hung on to third place in the jostling for the four playoff bids.

The Rams, two and half games ahead of fifth-place Temple, can clinch their 17th berth in 20 years by winning one of their two remaining regular-season matches. They host Fordham Tuesday night (6 p.m.) and fourth-place Duquense on Friday night (7 p.m.).

Valencia piled up 17 digs, one off her career high, as the Rams held George Washington (6-15, 5-8) to a .103 hitting percentage and completed a season sweep of the defending A-10 champs. She also dinked her way to a .667 kill percentage (4-0-6).

Sophomore Amy Kauppila contributed nine kills and 15 digs, just missing a double-double. Ecklund, who came up with 13 digs, earned her 11th double-double of the year, and Bogocz supplied 10 digs to complete her ninth of the season.

Michelle Fulton led both teams with five blocks and helped out offensively with a .313 hitting line (7-2-16). Meanwhile fellow sophomore Mary Kate Reardon chipped in three blocks, eight digs, nine kills and 10 assists.

Laura Harrison led George Washington with 10 kills, and Ruth Lazzari topped the Colonials with 11 digs.

Rhode Island (14-10) 30 30 30 -- 3
G. Washington (6-15) 28 21 21 -- 0