How It Happened
For the second time this season, Rhode Island pushed first-place Dayton to five sets, only to come up short Friday night.

The Rams (16-7, 6-4 Atlantic 10) were up 2-1 in sets and 17-15 in the fourth frame when Dayton (19-5, 10-0 A-10) came roaring back. An 8-4 run moved the Flyers ahead 23-19 and Dayton eventually knotted the match at 2-2 on a kill by Amber Erhahon. The final set was all Dayton, as the Flyers steadily extended their lead and took the set, 15-6. The final score was 3-2 (25-23, 22-25, 23-25, 25-21, 15-6).

Rhody had a 12-9 lead in the opening set, but Dayton responded with an 8-1 run to go up by four points at 17-13. From there the Rams got within one point six times, but the Flyers never gave up the advantage and took the set 25-23.

In the second set, Rhode Island was hot early, jumping out to a 9-4 lead. Audrey Castro had three kills and Franki Darnold had two kills and an ace to key the burst. With the Rams leading 13-9, Dayton ran off four straight to tie things at 13-13. Rhody appeared in trouble as the Flyers pulled ahead 17-15, but back-to-back Dayton errors knotted the set at 17-17. A Castro kill assisted by Callan Kinnan put the Rams up 19-18 and Rhode Island kept the lead the rest of the way. An ace by Darnold gave the Rams set point at 24-21, and two plays later, Castro ended the set with another kill.

Rhody was up 23-19 in third set before back-to-back kills by Dayton's Alaina Turner made it 23-21 and caused the Rams to call timeout. The break didn't stop the momentum, as the Flyers scored the next point to pull within 23-22. Two Dayton service errors in the next three points allowed Rhode Island to take the set, as well as a 2-1 lead in the match.

Dayton jumped out to a 12-6 lead in the fourth set, but Rhody battled back and eventually tied it at 14-14, following two straight aces by Kinnan. The Rams went up 17-15, but the Flyers went on an 8-4 run to move back in front, 23-19. The Rams scored two in a row to make it 23-21, but that was as close as they would get.

Dayton never trailed in the final set, jumping out to an 8-5 lead. A Castro kill pulled Rhody within 8-6, but Dayton ran off the final seven points of the night to clinch the match.

Inside the Box Score

• Rhode Island has taken four sets off Dayton in two matches this season. The rest of the A-10 combined has won just three sets against the Flyers in eight matches.
• Dayton had 13.5 blocks, compared to six for Rhode Island.
• Junior Audrey Castro had a match-high 16 kills to go with 15 digs. 
• Castro and senior Franki Darnold each had their seventh double-double of the season. Darnold had 12 kills and 10 digs.
• The match featured both of the reigning co-Atlantic 10 Offensive Players of the Week. Rhody's Callan Kinnan had 41 assists, eight digs and three aces, while Dayton's Amber Erhahon had 14 kills and six blocks.
• Senior Cate Seman had a match-high 16 digs to go with seven kills for Rhody.
• Sophomore Marie Gillcrist had nine kills and five blocks.

Stat of the Day 
1,000 – Senior Lizzy Scanlon became the ninth player in Rhode Island history to reach 1,000 digs. Scanlon – who needed four entering the match – finished the night with nine and now has 1,005 for her career.

What's Next 
Rhode Island plays its final home match of the season Saturday night when it hosts Saint Louis at 7 p.m. Franki Darnold, Lizzy Scanlon and Catie Seman will be honored before the match as part of Senior Night.