By Ally Martini
GoRhody.com Media Relations Assistant

Rhode Island Starters (4-23, 1-14 Atlantic 10)
Owens, Shilling, Passerello, Vente, Blahut, Bowman, Powers (L)
 
Dayton Starters (26-2, 15-0 Atlantic 10)
Almodovar, Moore, Miller, Russell, Sarkissian, Yates, Kaminski (L)
 
How it Happened
No. 18 Dayton swept Rhode Island 25-12, 25-17, 25-12, picking up its 21st straight victory on URI's Senior Night Friday.
 
Set One - Dayton 25, Rhode Island 12
Dayton started the set with a 7-0 run to build an early lead. Rhode Island responded with a 4-0 run of its own that featured kills from Gabrielle Shilling and Andrea Owens to get back within three points. However, an 11-3 run by the Flyers extended the lead to double digits at 18-7. A Samantha Blahut ace got it back to single digits at 19-10, but that was as close as the Rams got, as Dayton got an ace from Taylor Russell – the team's fifth of the set, to close out the opener.
 
Set Two - Dayton 25, Rhode Island 17
It was back and forth action to start the set, as Rhode Island tied it at 6-6 on a block from Gabrielle Shilling and again at 7-7 on a Megan Disu kill. The Flyers began to pull away with a 5-0 run that included a pair of Alyssa Miller aces. URI managed to get back within one point with a 5-1 run that included two kills by Shilling and an ace from Ryleigh Powers. Dayton turned up the heat, outscoring the Rams 12-7 from there.
 
Set Three - Dayton 25, Rhode Island 12
Rhode Island managed to take the lead twice early in the third set. An ace by Samantha Blahut put Rhody up 3-2 and a kill by Madi Disu had the Rams ahead again at 6-5. However, Dayton took control with a 6-1 run that established an 11-7 lead. Disu's second kill of the set got Rhody within three at 11-8, but the Flyers effectively put the match away with an 8-0 run that made the score 19-8. The teams traded points down the stretch until kills from Lexie Almodovar and Brooke Smith ended the night.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Freshman Megan Disu led Rhode Island with seven kills, four of which came in the second set.
• The seven kills were one shy of her career high.
• Graduate student Gabrielle Shilling had four kills and three blocks.
• She is eight blocks away from 300 for her career.
• Redshirt sophomore Hope Passerello led the team with six digs, while libero Ryleigh Powers added five.
• Before the match, Samantha Blahut, Maddie Norris and Gabrielle Shilling were honored as part of Rhode Island's Senior Night ceremony. 

What's Next
Rhode Island and Dayton are back in action Saturday, Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. The match is scheduled to stream on ESPN+.