How It Happened
Rhode Island won its eighth straight match as it opened Atlantic 10 play with a 3-1 (25-18, 25-14, 21-25, 28-26) victory over VCU Friday night.

It was all Rhode Island from the start. After VCU scored the first point of the match, Rhody (10-3, 1-0 A-10) ran off eight consecutive points to build a big lead early. Senior Franki Darnold had back-to-back aces to key the run. VCU (6-9, 0-1 A-10) never got closer than four points the rest of the way until a kill by Darnold gave Rhode Island the set. Darnold and Layne Self combined for eight kills while Callan Kinnan had 12 assists in the opening set.

Rhode Island took command of the match midway through the second set. What started as a back-and-forth set turned into a runaway when, leading 13-11, Rhody went on an 11-1 to make it 24-12. Rhode Island's defense forced seven VCU attack errors during the run en route to a 2-0 set lead.

VCU didn't go easily, taking the third set, 25-21, before keeping things tight in the fourth set. Rhode Island led 19-15, but VCU scored four straight to tie the set, 19-19. The teams also were tied 20-20, 21-21, 24-24, 25-25 and 26-26 before back-to-back kills from Darnold finally ended the match.

Inside the Box Score

• Senior Franki Darnold had 20 kills, the third time this season she has had at least 20 in a match. Darnold had a .457 attack percentage, as she had 20 kills and just four errors in 35 total attacks.
• Junior setter Callan Kinnan had 52 assists, marking the fourth time this season she has had at least 50 in a match. 
• Junior Layne Self was strong in multiple phases, posting 15 kills, seven total blocks and three assists. 
• Junior Audrey Castro had 15 kills and seven assists. She has reached double digits in kills in six consecutive matches.
• Senior Cate Seman had six kills, five digs, four blocks and one service ace.
• The match featured sisters playing against each other. Rhode Island's Jessie Blaze is a sophomore libero while VCU's Sam Blaze is a junior libero/setter. Both sisters had two digs.

Stat of the Day
8 – Rhode Island has won eight straight matches. On Sunday, Rhody will go for its ninth victory in a row, which would be the team's longest winning streak since it won 10 consecutive matches in 2001.

What's Next
Rhode Island hosts Davidson in Atlantic 10 action Sunday at 1 p.m.