Aug. 26, 2005

KINGSTON, R.I. - The Rhode Island women's volleyball team will open the 2005 campaign on the road competing in the Maine Invitational this Friday and Saturday, Aug 26-27.

On Friday, the Rams (9-17, 4-10 A-10 in 2004) will face Fairfield at 11:00 a.m. followed by a match with the host Black Bears at 2:30 p.m. URI will finish the weekend with a match against Montana on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

Junior outside hitter Rachel Bello (Wyckoff, N.J.) returns after finishing second for the '04 Rams in kills (302) kills per game (3.28) and points (335). Junior middle blocker Ivy Zuidhof (Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada) is also back after finishing second for the Rams in total blocks (69) and blocks per game (.72) a year ago.

URI will compete at the Hartford Invitational on Sep. 2-3 and the Harvard Invitational on Sep. 9-10 before hosting the Rhode Island Volleyball Classic with North Carolina, Arizona, and UConn on Sep. 16-17.