Rhode Island Starters
Powers, McCarles, Abuto, Rolle, Vente, Bowman, Henry (L)

VCU Starters
Galli, Dibbs-Frantz, Foley, Pylinkska, Boledovicova, Ozsoy, Sugimoto (L)

How it Happened
Rhode Island (3-16, 0-7 Atlantic 10) and VCU engaged in a five-set thriller Sunday afternoon. The visiting Rams barely edged a URI squad that played arguably its best match of the season. VCU (8-7, 6-1 Atlantic 10) managed to escape Kingston with a 25-16, 23-25, 24-26, 25-19, 15-13 victory.

Set One - VCU 25, Rhode Island 16
VCU opened the set with a 6-1 run that featured back-to-back aces by Nina Boledovicova. VCU's offense and service game controlled play from there. VCU had seven aces in the set, and the trio of Boledovicova, Sarah Dibbs-Frantz and Julia Rienks each had three kills as VCU hit .370 as a team.

Set Two - Rhode Island 25, VCU 23
Rhode Island used its own service game to build an early lead. Aces from Kiera McCarles, Ryleigh Powers ad Ema Stermenska helped Rhody get out to a 10-7 lead. A pair of McKenna Melton kills and a solo block by Havyn Rolle put URI up 14-10. Another McCarles ace gave Rhode Island its biggest lead at 18-11 before VCU rallied to tie the score at 21-21. Rhody bent but did not break. An Erika Bracey kill and an attack error for VCU set up two set points at 24-22. VCU staved off one point, but McKenna Melton's fourth kill of the set tied the match for Rhody.

Set Three - Rhode Island 26, VCU 24
Rhody got six kills in its first 15 attacks of the set and an Erika Bracey kill gave URI a 10-7 edge to force a VCU timeout. The teams went back and forth for several points before a McKenna Melton kill gave URI a 14-10 lead. VCU chipped away and pulled within one following back-to-back Kalina Pylinska aces that made it 14-13. Neither side led by more than two from there until a Havyn Rolle kill put Rhody ahead, 22-19. A 3-1 VCU run tied the score after another Pylinska ace. After a URI timeout, she set up set point with her fourth ace of the set. However, Aerin Bowman fought off the set point with a kill, and a VCU attack error gave URI a 25-24 lead. A block by Sydney Houchens and Havyn Rolle ended the set and put URI up 2-1.

Set Four - VCU 25, Rhode Island 19
VCU found its rhythm on offense in the fourth, hitting .333 as a team. Nina Boledovicova led the way with four kills as the guests had 13 kills and just two errors in the frame and squared the match.

Set Five - VCU 15, Rhode Island 13
The only time the teams were separated by more than two points in the deciding set came at 10-7 in favor of Rhode Island. Three straight attack errors by the visitors had URI in front, but Rhody couldn't hold the lead. A McKenna Melton kill had URI up 12-11, but a service error immediately tied the score. Kalina Pylinska's eighth ace of the match made it 13-12 for VCU, but a service error tied it again. A solo block by Julieta Portillo set up match point, and a kill by Julia Rienks ended the instant classic.

Inside the Box Score

• Rhode Island had 51 kills, the fourth time in the last nine matches the team has topped 50. In the first 10 matches of the season, URI did not have more than 41 in a match.
• Aerin Bowman led three Rhode Island players in double figures with 12 kills to go with three blocks and two digs.
• Erika Bracey had a career-high 11 kills, which came in four sets. She hit .292 on the day.
• McKenna Melton also had 11 kills, her third time in double digits.
• Havyn Rolle was nearly the fourth Ram in double figures. She finished with nine kills and five blocks.
• Playing in front of several family members who made the trip from Canada, Keira McCarles had a double-double, recording 20 assists and 11 digs to go with three aces.
• Sydney Houchens had 10 digs, four kills, three blocks and two aces.
• Ema Stermenska had 21 assists and six digs.
• Dakota Henry led the team with 15 digs.

Up Next
Rhode Island heads to Saint Louis for a pair of matches. The Friday night match is at 7 p.m. EST, while the Saturday match is at 1 p.m. EST. Both days are scheduled to be streamed.