How It Happened
Rhode Island (9-2) lost its opening match at the Holly Young Invitational, hosted by the University of New Hampshire. The Rams were swept for the first time this season, falling to New Mexico State, 16-25, 21-25, 16-25.

The Aggies - who improve to 4-5 overall - never trailed in the first set. The second set featured four lead changes and seven ties. The Rams were in control down the stretch, leading 22-18. However, NMSU charged back with seven consecutive points to close out the set with a win.

The Aggies carried the momentum into the third set, claiming nine of the first 10 points and leading by as many as 13 at 20-7. URI tried to claw its way back with a 6-1 run that cut the deficit to eight (21-13) but it was too little, too late as NMSU ran away with the 25-16 victory.

Inside the Box Score

• The Rams recorded a season-low .109 hitting percentage, finishing the night with 20 attack errors - URI's most in a three-set match this season.
• Rhody also matched its season low with just 39 digs (13 per set). Entering the weekend, the Rams were ranked eighth in the nation with an average of 17.76 per set.
• Junior Franki Darnold posted a match-high nine kills. It marked just the fourth time in URI's last 35 matches that the outside hitter did not reach double figures in the kills column.
• Sophomore Callan Kinnan finished with a match-high 25 assists. She also added seven digs and a pair of aces.
• Junior Cate Seman led URI with nine digs and a pair of block assists.
• Seniors Catie Steffen (8) and Caroline Casey (6) accounted for nearly half of Rhody's 31 kills.
• New Mexico finished with nine total team blocks while Rhode Island managed just four. 
• The Aggies also had twice as many service aces as the Rams, 10-5.

Stat of the Match
10 – New Mexico State's 10 service aces are the most by a Rhode Island opponent so far this season.

What's Next
Rhode Island continues play at the Holly Young Invitational on Saturday with a pair of matches against New Hampshire (12:30 p.m.) and Brown (4:30 p.m.).