Rhode Island Starters
Fillion, Paulette, Hammond, Britton, Smith, Myers, Ratzloff (libero)
 
Duquesne Starters
Shoemake, Slade, Onu, Poling, Larson, Parrott, Spencer (libero)
 
Set One – Rhode Island 25, Duquesne 15
Rhody and Duquesne were plagued by service errors early on, combining for seven through the first 21 points. The Rams' fourth of the set allowed Duquesne to pull within one at 11-10, but URI responded with an 8-2 run to pull ahead 19-12. The Rams closed things out from there, taking advantage of four Duquesne errors – as well as kills by Jamie Smith and Brittany Myers – for the 25-15 victory.

Set Two – Duquesne 25, Rhode Island 17
The Dukes regrouped and opened the second set on a tear, jumping out to a 10-4 lead and never looking back. After back-to-back Duquesne errors got Rhody within three (11-8), the Dukes used another 10-4 push to create a nine-point cushion for themselves at 21-12. The Rams scored five of the next six points, but the deficit was too much to overcome as Duquesne eased its way to the 25-17 win.
 
Set Three – Duquesne 27, Rhode Island 25
The third set was tight the whole way as neither team led by more than two points until a Duquesne attack error put Rhody up 18-15. The teams traded points all the way to 22-19 before the Dukes got three in a row to tie things up at 22 apiece. A kill by Tori Britton, followed by a Grace Hammond service ace, gave URI set point at 24-22, but Duquesne rallied back and eventually defeated Rhody 27-25.
 
Set Four – Rhode Island 25, Duquesne 18
Duquesne took control in the fourth set, building an early 8-4 lead. Rhode Island charged back with an 8-0 run however to move ahead 12-8. The Dukes got back within one on a block that cut Rhody's advantage to 16-15, but it was all Rhody from that point on. The Rams used six kills and a service ace to go up 23-16 and then traded points with Duquesne until a Mariah Paulette kill ended thing with the Rams on top 25-18.
 
Set Five – Duquesne 15, Rhode Island 13
The fifth and final set was tightly contested and featured early ties at 3-3, 4-4 and 5-5. From there, three straight Duquesne points put the Dukes up 8-5, but Rhody rallied back with a 4-1 run that tied the score at 9-9. Continuously playing from behind, the Rams tied the score three more times – at 10-10, 12-12 and 13-13 – but the Dukes claimed the final two points to win the decisive set 15-13.
 

Inside the Box Score

• Grad student Jamie Smith led all players with 20 kills. She also added 13 digs for her first double-double of the season.
• Sophomore Brynne Wright added 16 kills for the Rams.
• Senior Mariah Paulette finished with eight kills and five blocks.
• Freshman Grace Hammond narrowly missed her sixth double-double as she recorded 46 assists and nine digs. She also had four service aces and four block assists.
• Senior Ella Ratzloff had a match-high 23 digs. With 1,377 career digs, the Rams' libero needs just two more to pass URI Hall of Famer Jessica Salmans and become Rhode Island's all-time leader – despite playing an abbreviated junior season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Up Next
The Rams return to Keaney Gymnasium tomorrow evening when they host Dayton at 6 p.m.