Rhode Island Starters
Wagner, Wright, Klise, Shilling, Pinell, Butler, Blaney
 
LIU Starters
Merz, Lucia, Nova, Berg, Smith, Mukura, Scott 

Set One – Rhode Island 25, LIU 22
Rhode Island came out on fire, building a 6-1 lead and forcing LIU to call a timeout just seven points into the match. The reset worked for the Sharks, who got back on the court and reeled off six straight points to pull ahead 7-6. It was tightly contested from that point on. With Rhody leading 17-14, LIU claimed eight of the next 12 points to go up 22-21. A Sharks service error then tied the score before kills from Gabrielle Shilling, Claire Wagner and Brynne Wright finished things off for the Rams.

Set Two – Rhode Island 25, LIU 21
With the score tied at 11-11 in the second set, Rhode Island used a 7-3 run to distance itself, before pulling ahead 20-14 on back-to-back aces by Brynne Wright. The Rams remained in control from that point on, not allowing LIU to get any closer than three points. LIU's fifth service error of the day ended things in favor of the Rams at 25-21.
 
Set Three – Rhode Island 25, LIU 18
The Rams finished things off with relative ease as LIU never had a lead in the third and final set. Rhody converted 73 percent (14-19) of its sideout opportunities to prevent the Sharks from establishing any sort of momentum. Shilling and Wright each had four kills in the set while Katie Butler set up 14 of URI's 15 terminations.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Grad student Gabrielle Shilling led Rhode Island with 11 kills on 16 swings. She also had a team-high three blocks.
• Senior Claire Wagner and sophomore Hannah Blaney each had 13 digs for the Rams. Wagner added nine kills, two blocks and one ace while Blaney contributed five digs and one ace.
• Junior Brynne Wright finished with nine kills, eight digs, three aces and a pair of blocks.
• Sophomore Katie Butler registered 34 assists and six digs.
• Grad student Mariah Paulette recorded a season-high eight kills and added two service aces.

Up Next
The Rams close out competition at the Art Carmichael Invitational tonight against Boston College. Match time is set for 7 p.m.