University of Rhode Island

Rhode Island Starters
Lalli, Johnson, Melton, Abuto, Richter, Keaney, Henry (L)

Duquesne Starters 
Wilmot, Bush, Stone, Searles, Schrom, Robertson, McIntosh, (L) Flowers (L)   

How it Happened
After a slow start, Rhode Island (6-15, 1-8 Atlantic 10) staged a furious comeback. However, the Rams ultimately fell to Duquesne (13-7, 4-5 A10) in the second five-set match between the teams in as many days. The Dukes won 25-6, 25-20, 20-25, 17-25, 15-11 Saturday afternoon.

Set One - Duquesne 25, Rhode Island 6
The first set needed less than 15 minutes as Duquesne rolled. The Dukes hit .579 as a team, drilling 11 kills with zero errors in 19 swings. Rhode Island, by contrast, had six kills and 12 errors. Chloe Wilmot had seven assists and one kill as she directed a flawless attack.  

Set Two - Duquesne 25, Rhode Island 20
The Rams responded and jumped out to a 6-1 lead to start the second set. However, Duquesne gradually chipped away and led 19-17 after a Simone Searles kill, forcing a Rhody timeout. A KJ Johnson kill and a Grace Keaney solo block helped URI pull even, but the Dukes went on a 5-0 run that featured a kill and two aces from Emersen Schrom that helped Duquesne take a 2-0 lead.

Set Three - Rhode Island 25, Duquesne 20
Rhode Island used its defense to turn the momentum. The Rams had seven block in the third set, including three each from Chloee Abuto, KJ Johnson and Emily Sawyer. Abuto and Sawyer combined on two blocks in a four-point span that helped Rhody pull ahead 20-15. Back-to-back Jahan Lalli aces put URI up 24-17, and a block by Johnson and Grace Keaney closed out the set and kept the Rams alive.

Set Four - Rhode Island 25, Duquesne 17
It was the offense that found its footing in the fourth set, as Rhode Island had 16 kills and hit .355 as a team. Cara Richter had four kills, while KJ Johnson, McKenna Melton and Chloe Abuto added three each. Richter also had nine digs in the set to help URI convert 70 percent of its sideout chances en route to forcing a fifth set.

Set Five - Duquesne 15, Rhode Island 11
The deciding fifth set was a wild back and forth affair with 10 ties and four lead changes. Neither side led by more than one point until Duquesne scored to pull ahead 13-11. An Emerson Schrom kill gave the Dukes match point before an attack error by URI ended the thriller in favor of the visitors.

Inside the Box Score

• Cara Richter posted her second double-double of the weekend, leading the team in both kills with 12 and digs with 21.
• She also had three service aces.
• The 21 digs were a career high.
• KJ Johnson had 10 kills with just two errors. She added five block assists and two service aces.
• McKenna Melton had her first career double-double with 10 kills and 11 digs.
• Ema Stermenska was the third Ram with a double-double, recording 21 assists with 11 digs.
• Emily Sawyer had nine kills and five blocks.
• Jahan Lalli had 22 assists, seven digs and two service aces.
• Chloe Abuto had seven kills and four blocks.
• Dakota Henry had 18 digs, six assists and one ace.

Up Next
Rhode Island travels to Davidson for two matches on Friday, Oct. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 24. Both matches are scheduled to stream on ESPN+.