Rhode Island Starters
Ma. Disu, McCarles, Abuto, Rolle, Vente, Bowman, Lamoreaux (L)

Providence Starters
McDonald, Kocon, Berry, Rhoden, Taylor, Grant, Lykins (L)

How It Happened
Rhode Island (1-4) got its first win of the season – and the first carer victory for head coach Ryan Sullivan – with a 3-1 (25-17, 21-25, 26-24, 25-12) defeat of Providence (2-2) Saturday morning. Karlee Pinell, Megan Disu and Katie Butler provided major sparks off the bench as the Rams snapped an 11-match skid dating back to last season.

Set One – Rhode Island 25, Providence 17
Rhode Island's defense set the early tone, getting five blocks and forcing 12 attack errors in the opening set. Chloe Abuto and Aerin Bowman led the way with three block assists each, while Havyn Rolle added two of her own. It led to a -.036 hitting percentage for the Friars. The key stretch came with URI clinging to a 14-13 led after three straight PC points. An Emma Vente kill and back-to-back aces by Madi Disu sparked a 5-0 run that extended the led to 19-13. Vente had four kills to help the Rams hit .227 as a team in the first set.
 
Set Two – Providence 25, Rhode Island 21
The Rams took a while to get its offense going in the second set. Seven attack errors early helped Providence establish a 17-10 lead.  Rhody began to chip away, A Karlee Pinell kill and Katie Butler ace helped swing the momentum, and successive kills by Madi Disu, Havyn Rolle and Megan Disu pulled Rhody within 18-16. PC pushed its lead back to four points at 20-16, but the Rams kept fighting, getting kills from Rolle, both Disu sisters, Chloe Abuto and an ace by Pinell as part of a 5-2 spurt to get within one at 22-21. However, the Friars closed with a three of the final four points, tying the set score with a Shaliyah Rhoden kill.

Set Three – Rhode Island 26, Providence 24
After finding itself down 19-10, Rhode Island surged back with an improbable rally. Freshman Havyn Rolle served seven consecutive points, including back-to-back aces. The Rams managed to tie the set 20-20, and they did not fold after consecutive points put the Friars back up, 22-20. A Karlee Pinell kill and a PC attack error tied the match at 22-22. The teams traded points, with Rhody getting kills from Katie Butler and Madi Disu to tie it at 23-23 and 24-24, respectively. Freshman Dakota Henry delivered an ace to give Rhody its first lead of the set, and a PC passing error completed the rally as Rhode Island rook the set lead back.

Set Four – Rhode Island 25, Providence 12
Rhode Island stepped on the gas and never let up in the fourth. Karlee Pinell delivered four kills and combined with Chloe Abuto on a block as part of an early Rhode Island surge. The Ram defense forced six attack errors by Providence while building an 18-7 lead. The Friars got four consecutive points to trim the lead to 18-11, but a Havyn Rolle kill slowed the momentum. Rolle and Disu then combined on a block, and a bad pass by PC extended the lead back to double digits at 21-11. Back-to-back Madi Disu kills from Katie Butler followed by a Friar attack error set up match point. Disu sealed with a kill, giving the Rams their first win of the season.

Inside the Box Score

• Outside hitter Karlee Pinell led Rhode Island with 13 kills and a .545 hitting percentage. Making the showing more impressive is that she did not enter the match until the second set.
• Pinell added three digs and two blocks.
• Setter Katie Butler had a season-high 33 assists to go with five digs.
• She also had four kills in well-timed dunks that showed a change of pace for the offense.
• Middle blocker Megan Disu had eight kills, three digs and two blocks with just two attack errors.
• Outside hitter Madi Disu had eight kills, six digs and two service aces.
• Middle blocker Havyn Rolle continued her strong play, delivering eight kills, three blocks, three digs and a pair of service aces.
• Middle blocker Chloe Abuto had five blocks, three kills and three digs.
• Libero Dakota Henry had 13 digs and a pair of service aces.
• Rhode Island had 10 service aces with eight service errors, the second straight match with better than a 1:1 ratio. The Rams had exactly a 1:1 ratio in each of its first three matches.
• The Rams hit .288 as a team while also limiting Providence to a .135 attack percentage.

Up Next
Rhode Island hosts Merrimack in its home opener in Keaney Gymnasium on Tuesday, Sept. 10. The match begins at 6 p.m. and will stream on ESPN+ at 6 p.m.