How It Happened
Rhode Island (5-6) lost both of its matches on the first day of the Dartmouth Duels Friday, falling in straight sets to both No. 9 Minnesota and then losing in four sets to host Dartmouth.

Minnesota (9-1) never trailed in the first match of the day, beating the Rams 25-21, 25-15, 25-10. The Gophers showed why they are one of the top teams in the country, hitting .400 as a team and converting 81 percent of their sideout opportunities for the match.

After dropping the first two sets against Dartmouth (6-2), Rhode Island showed fight on the third. Trailing 24-21 and facing three match points, the Rams scored the final five points of the set to extend the match. Two kills by Franki Darnold, a pair of blocks from Caroline Casey and a set error by Dartmouth kept Rhody in the match. Dartmouth edged the Rams in the fourth set to take a 25-20, 25-23, 24-26, 26-24 victory.

Inside the Box Score

• Sophomore Franki Darnold led the Rhode Island attack in both matches, getting 14 kills against Minnesota and 17 more in the Dartmouth match. Darnold had reached double digits in kills in four straight matches, and eight times in 11 matches this season.
• Darnold and freshman setter Callan Kinnan had double-doubles against Dartmouth. Darnold had 17 kills to go with 13 digs, while Kinnan had a career-highs with 57 assists and 20 digs. 
• Junior Catie Steffen notched her 600th career kill in the Minnesota match, and then had a season-high 18 kills against Dartmouth.
• After getting just 26 digs as a team against Minnesota, Rhode Island played much better defense in the Dartmouth match. The Rams had 87 digs, as Kinnan (20), Cate Seman (18), Darnold (13), Steffen (13) and Lizzy Scanlon (10) all reached double figures.
• Freshman Layne Self had 11 kills in the Dartmouth match. She has had 10 or more in three of Rhode Island's last five matches.

Stat of the Day
57 – Freshman Callan Kinnan topped 50 assists for the first time in her career, finishing the Dartmouth match with 57.

What's Next
Rhode Island continues play at the Dartmouth Duels Saturday. The Rams play New Hampshire at 9:30 a.m. and Connecticut at 5 p.m.