Rhode Island Starters
Wagner, Wright, Blaney, Paulette, Shilling, Passerello, Butler
 
VCU Starters
Brangioni, Hoffmeier, Jones, Knight, Stratton, Bentley, Hartzell
 
Set One – VCU 25, Rhode Island 21
Rhode Island came out firing on all cylinders and built a 14-8 lead to open the first set. Six straight points from VCU quickly erased Rhody's advantage however. URI scored the next point, to pull back ahead at 15-14, but that was the last time VCU trailed. Rhode Island was held to just three kills the rest of the way as VCU charged back for the 25-21 victory.

Set Two – Rhode Island 25, VCU 23
The second set featured several runs by both teams. Rhode Island played from behind until a 4-0 push put the visiting Rams on top 10-7. VCU responded with five consecutive points however to reclaim the lead at 12-10. With the Rams of Richmond on top 18-14, URI dug down and outscored VCU 11-5 down the stretch to even the match at one set apiece.
 
Set Three – Rhode Island 25, VCU 23
It was all Rhody in the third set as URI opened on an 11-4 tear. VCU battled back and cut the deficit to 13-11, but Rhode Island used a 7-3 run to distance itself at 20-13. With Rhody later playing for set point at 24-19, VCU reeled off four straight points to get it to 24-23, but a kill by Claire Wagner ended things with Rhody on top 25-23.
 
Set Four – VCU 25, Rhode Island 23
Rhode Island claimed six of the first seven points, but once again let VCU right back in it with a 5-0 run. With VCU later leading 15-14, Brynne Wright recorded back-to-back kills and then tacked on a service ace for the 17-15 advantage. From there, Rhody stretched it to 19-16, but another 5-0 run for VCU put the home Rams up 21-19. URI took four of the next five points to get back in front at 23-22, however VCU sandwiched a service ace between two Rhode Island errors to force a decisive fifth set.
 
Set Five – VCU 15, Rhode Island 12
The closest URI got in the fifth set was when a Gabrielle Shilling kill tied the score at 1-1. From there, VCU used a 7-2 run to establish control. URI cut the deficit to three at 8-5, 9-6, 12-9 and 13-10 before another ace from Wright made it 13-11. Shilling and Karlee Pinell then combined for a block to trim VCU's lead to 13-12, forcing the hosts to call a time out. After the break, VCU got to set point on a service error by Rhode Island, and then finished things off on a kill by Qairo Bentley.

Inside the Box Score

• The loss is Rhode Island's third straight by a score of 3-2.
• In each of those 3-2 defeats, URI was ahead 2-1.
• Rhody took two sets from VCU for the first time since winning by a score of 3-2 back in 2016. Since then, and prior to tonight's result, URI had been outscored 27-2 over nine matches.
• Senior Claire Wagner and grad student Gabrielle Shilling each had 11 kills and three blocks for the Rams. Wagner added 13 digs and a pair of assists.
• Freshman Karlee Pinell recorded eight kills and three blocks.
• Junior Brynne Wright finished the match with six kills, seven digs and four service aces.
• Redshirt freshman Emma Vente had six digs, three aces, three kills and two blocks.
• Grad student Mariah Paulette recorded four kills, two digs, one ace and five blocks – including one solo.
• Redshirt freshman Hope Passerello made her first career start for the Rams. She finished the night with six assists, two digs and one ace.
• Sophomore Katie Butler registered 32 assists, 10 digs, four kills and one block.
• Sophomore Hannah Blaney had a team-high 26 digs.
• Senior Adel Gage added six digs and a pair of blocks.

Up Next
Rhody and VCU return to the Siegel Center for a 5 p.m. match on Saturday.