Rhode Island Starters
Wright, Blaney, Shilling, Passerello, Pinell, Blahut, Nelson

George Mason Starters
Gelfound, Ehmke, Der, Gacek, Larkin, Kennedy, Clarke
 
Set One – George Mason 25, Rhode Island 19
The Rams and Patriots kept it close early on with George Mason leading 6-4. From there, URI used a 7-3 push to move ahead 13-7. Mason responded with four consecutive points, and later closed things out on a 12-2 run to take the opening set by a score of 25-19.

Set Two – Rhode Island 25, George Mason 20
The second set featured six lead changes, seven ties and a combined 18 kills – 11 for Rhody and seven for George Mason. The Rams used four team blocks to help limit the Patriots to a negative hitting percentage (-.120) as Mason had 10 attack errors opposite its seven kills. After a Karlee Pinell kill tied the score at 18-18 late in the set, URI outscored George Mason 7-2 down the stretch to even the match at one set apiece.

Set Three – Rhode Island 25, George Mason 20
The Rams' converted 65 percent (13-20) of their sideout opportunities in the third set while keeping the Patriots attack at bay. George Mason had 10 kills with 10 errors on 36 swings as Rhode Island once again combined for four team blocks. The Rams also used four service aces – including three from Brynne Wright – in another 25-20 set victory.
 
Set Four – Rhode Island 26, George Mason 24
With Mason leading the fourth set 7-6, four straight Rhode Island points gave the Rams a 10-7 lead. During that run, Samantha Blahut had two aces. Another ace by Blahut later in the set gave URI its largest lead at 20-15, but the Patriots rallied back and fought off a pair of match points to tie the score at 24-24. A service error by the hosts then set up URI's third match point of the night and this time the Rams benefited from an attack error for the 26-24, match-clinching win.
 
Inside the Box Score

• With the win, Rhode Island improves 2-11 in the Atlantic 10 and 6-12 overall. Meanwhile George Mason falls to 3-11 in league play and 7-18 overall.
• Rhody and Mason each had 44 kills and 11 team blocks in the match.
• The Rams had a 14-10 advantage in service aces while the Patriots recorded 63 digs to URI's 44.
• Karlee Pinell and Brynne Wright  each had 11 kills for the Rams.
• Wright also had nine digs, four aces and three blocks.
• Gabrielle Shilling recorded eight kills and eight block assists.
• Hannah Blaney (12) and Ryleigh Powers (8) combined for nearly half (20-44) of Rhode Island's digs.
• Hope Passerello finished with 36 assists on Rhody's 44 kills. She also added five digs, two kills and a pair of service aces.
• Lauren Nelson finished with seven kills and five block assists.
• Samantha Blahut added five kills, four aces, three blocks and two digs.

Up Next
Rhody is back in action Wednesday night at Fordham.