HOW IT HAPPENED
Rhode Island (4-6) lost its second match in a row, falling 3-2 (25-20, 25-27, 26-28, 25-17, 15-8 To Hofstra on the first day of the Columbia Invitational.

Leading 4-3 in the final set, Hofstra (10-5) scored seven consecutive points to take command of the match. Three kills by Nikki Kinnier and three attack errors by the Rams keyed the run by the Pride. Kinnier and Kelsie Wills each had 20 kills for the Hofstra offense.

The match was the third straight five-set affair for the Rams, and the fifth time in 10 matches that Rhody has gone the distance. Rhode Island is ??-?? in five-set matches thus far.

TOP PERFORMANCES
* Freshman Franki Darnold led Rhode Island with a career-high 14 kills. She added three digs and one block assist.
* Sophomore Catie Steffen had her team-leading fourth double-double of the season, notching 11 kills and a career-high 24 assists. The dig total tied teammate Ashley Tennant for the sixth most in a single match in school history.
* Sophomore Kelly Rosenberg came off the bench to post a career-high 27 assists. She finished with her second double-double of the year, as Rosenberg had 15 digs to go with the assists.
* Sophomore Caroline Casey had eight kills, three digs and three total blocks.
* Freshman Cate Seman had 15 digs, while senior Ashley Tennant added 13.

STAT OF THE DAY
Of the 50 kills Rhode Island had as a team, 38 (76 percent) were recorded by sophomores and freshmen.

WHAT'S NEXT
Rhode Island plays a pair of matches Saturday at the Columbia Invitational. The Rams battle host Columbia at 11 a.m. and then close out the weekend against Colgate (4:30 p.m.).