HOW IT HAPPENED
Rhode Island (4-4) rallied from a two-set deficit to defeat Canisius 3-2 (24-26, 21-25, 25-20, 25-19, 15-9) and win its second straight match in the Art Carmichael Invitational Friday night.

Junior Britta Baarstad, who is still working her way back from injury, sparked the Rhody comeback. After sitting out the first two sets, Baarstad came off the bench to finish with 11 kills and just one attack error over the final three sets. She was one of four Rams in double-digits in kills.  

TOP PERFORMANCES

• Sophomore Catie Steffen posted her team-leading third double-double of the season, notching a career-best 22 kills and 13 digs. She needs just nine more kills to reach 300 kills despite playing just 38 matches in her career.

• Sophomore Bailey Dowd had the best match of her season thus far, posting 16 kills, three block assists and two digs. She had just one attack error in 31 attempts, giving her a sparkling .484 attack percentage.
• Senior Annie Nelson had a season- and career-high 59 assists to go with six digs and two block assists.
• Freshman Lizzy Scanlon had a topped 20 digs for the first time in her career, finishing the night with 22 digs and three assists.
• Senior Ashley Tennant had 20 digs, the second time she has had 20 or more in a match this season. It was the fourth double-digit total for her this season.
• Senior Jill Anderson had 10 digs and five block assists. 

SETON HALL WINS PAIR

Earlier on Friday, Seton Hall won its first two matches of the tournament, sweeping Canisius and Hartford. The Pirates (6-1) knocked off Canisius (2-6), 25-14, 25-17, 25-17 and then handled Hartford 25-16, 25-18, 25-13.

Stacey Manthorpe had 16 kills in both Seton Hall victories. She added 11 digs for a double-double against Canisius. Shelbey Manthorpe had 57 assists and 12 digs combined in the two matches.

STAT OF THE DAY
Canisius libero Allyson Severyn had a match-high 37 digs. To put that in perspective, the Rhode Island school record for digs in a match is 32.

WHAT'S NEXT
Rhode Island hosts Seton Hall in the finale of the Carmichael Invitational Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. The match will determine the tournament champion, as the Rams and Pirates are both 2-0 thus far. Canisius and Hartford will play each other Saturday at noon.