Aug. 31, 2001

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - Rhode Island opened the 2001 volleyball season Friday afternoon with a 3-0 loss in the Utah Classic to the host team, No. 21 Utah, the first of three nationally ranked opponents awaiting URI in the first four days.

The Rams (0-1) will take the court again later on Friday against unranked Texas Tech before taking on No. 25 Georgia Tech Saturday and No. 11 Brigham Young on Labor Day.

The Rams fell 30-13, 30-16, 30-14 in only their second meeting ever with Utah, a team going for its fourth straight NCAA tournament berth. Their only previous encounter took place in 1987.

Senior middle blocker Yolanda Bogacz led Rhode Island with eight kills, and junior setter Juliana Valencia ran the attack with 16 assists in her URI debut. Valencia, a native of Cali, Colombia, helped Miami-Dade Community College win the national juco title in 1999 and finish second last fall.

For Utah, junior outside hitter Sylva Strzinkova converted 10 of her 15 kill attempts and freshman middle blocker Kim Turner made good on 7 of 9 in her college debut. Senior outside hitter Alisa Geddes came through with six service aces.