KINGSTON, R.I. – Rhode Island volleyball head coach Ryan Sullivan has added one transfer while signing a pair of freshmen to National Letters of Intent for the 2025 season.

Marshall transfer McKenna Melton is an outside hitter who spent the last two seasons with the Thundering Herd. After redshirting as a freshman, she played in 16 matches last fall, making seven starts and helping Marshall go 15-14 overall. The 5-11 Melton – who has three years of eligibility remaining – averaged 1.91 kills per set on offense for Marshall.

"McKenna is a powerful outside hitter with a deep range of shot selections," Sullivan said. "Her big swing mentality will immediately translate to points in our gym. McKenna is an outstanding student. Her time management and academic discipline will fit in with our current culture."

Melton has joined the Rams for the Spring semester and is already with the team. Incoming middle blocker Hannah Jonick and setter Autumn Tombline will arrive next fall in time for the 2025 season.

A San Diego native, Jonick is a 6-5 middle blocker out of Rancho Bernardo High School. She also played six years with the WAVE Volleyball Club. She chose Rhode Island over UC Santa Barbara, New Hampshire and Boston College.

"Hannah's size and blocking ability will allow her to have an immediate impact in our gym," Sullivan said. "She has natural hands at the net and will make it tough on our attackers to hit around her. We've had Hannah at camp before and she comes from an outstanding family with New England roots. Offensively she has power and versatility which will help out our setters.  She has been playing at the Open level for an outstanding club and comes to Rhody with multiple years experience of playing at the highest level."

A Stamford, Conn. native, the 5-10 Tombline was a 2024 NEPSAC All-Star and First Team All-League honoree for Rye Country Day. A natural leader, she captained not only Rye, but also the Packer Collegiate club team and the NYC Juniors Volleyball Club team that she played for. She also played for the Northeast Volleyball Club in Connecticut. An all-around athlete, she played basketball and was a track and field athlete in high school.
 
"Autumn is an athletic, versatile setter who is a jack of all trades," Sullivan said. "Her mind for the game and discipline will allow her to grow at an accelerated rate with our culture.  She moves well and is consistent in running an offense."

The three newcomers join a Rhode Island team that showed great improvement in the first season for Sullivan. He took over a program that won four matches overall in 2023. Sullivan's squad won nine matches in 2024, more than doubling the previous season's total. He also led the Rams to four A-10 wins. URI had won three A-10 matches combined in 2022 and 2023.