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

George Mason Starters
Graetz, Colter, Booker, Thompson, Cheney, Brown, Martinez-Robinson (L)

How it Happened
Rhode Island (5-21, 2-12 Atlantic 10) won for the second time in three matches, knocking off George Mason (15-10, 8-6 A-10) 3-1 (25-23, 25-17, 22-25, 25-20) Sunday afternoon.

It was the defense setting the tone early, as the Rams had 11 blocks over the first two sets. As the offense found its rhythm later in the match, URI finished strong, leading throughout the fifth set while working toward the victory.

Set One - Rhode Island 25, George Mason 23
Rhode Island opened the match with a 9-3 run that included three blocks, an ace from Sydney Houchens and three service errors by George Mason, forcing the visitors into an early timeout. The momentum stayed with the Rams, and after Houchens and Chloe Abuto combined on the team's fifth block of the set, George Mason used its second timeout, trailing 13-6. Rhody led by 18-10 before the Patriots stormed back with a 9-1 run to tie the score at 19-19 on a Nia Thompson kill. Following a URI timeout, the teams traded the next eight points. With the scored knotted 23-23, Havyn Rolle killed a free ball, and Houchens followed with a kill to give Rhode Island the set.

Set Two - Rhode Island 25, George Mason 17
The second set was even near the midpoint, with the teams tied 14-14. Rhode Island called timeout and responded with an 8-0 run to take command. Havyn Rolle had two aces and a kill while Chloe Abuto had two blocks to key the long run. Up 22-14, the Rams were content to trade points until McKenna Melton ended the set with her third kill of the frame.

Set Three - George Mason 25, Rhode Island 22
A 3-0 spurt by George Mason gave the Patriots a 16-13 lead following a block by Meredith Brown and Ava Cheney. Though the deficit never extended beyond three points, URI could not rally enough. Back-to-back kills from Meredith Brown and Avery Booker pushed the match to a fourth set.

Set Four - Rhode Island 25, George Mason 20
The only time the fourth set was tied was at 1-1. From there, it was Rhode Island in front the entire way, though the score remained close. A Chelsea Colter kill pulled George Mason within 17-16, but URI responded with a kill by McKennna Melton and back-to-back aces by Ryleigh Powers to build a 20-16 lead. The Ram lead never below three points again, and consecutive attack errors by George Mason ended the match.

Inside the Box Score

• Libero Dakota Henry recorded a career-high 26 digs to go with four assists.
• Henry has 75 digs over her last three matches, averaging 5.8 digs per set over that span.
• Chloe Abuto had eight blocks, including two solo efforts. Her last block of the match was her 100th of the season.
• Abuto joined Layne Self (four times from 2013-16) and Michelle Fulton (2001 and 2003) as the only Rhody players in the rally-point era to record 100 or more blocks in multiple seasons.
• Aerin Bowman led the offense with 11 kills and just one error in 24 swings (.417 attack percentage).
• Havyn Rolle added 10 kills, seven digs, three blocks and two aces.
• Sydney Houchens had seven kills, eight digs and three blocks.
• Ema Stermenska just missed a double-double, finishing with 15 assists and nine digs.
• Kiera McCarles had 21 assists and six digs.
• Hannah Jonick delivered nine kills and two blocks.

Up Next
Rhode Island travels to Loyola Chicago for a pair of matches. The teams play Friday, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. Both matches will stream on ESPN+.