University of Rhode Island

Rhode Island Starters
Melton, Stermenska, Richter, Sawyer, Jonick, Keaney, Henry (L)

VCU Starters 
Galli, Kasinska, Dibbs-Fantz, Boledovicova, Baksh (L), Martic, Sendir (L), Touhey (L)    

How it Happened
In an inconsistent performance, Rhode Island fell at VCU 25-23, 12-25, 25-16, 25-14 Friday night.

At times, URI (5-13, 0-6 A10) was the dominant team, only to see VCU (6-8, 4-2 A-10) go on long runs of its own. In the end, Rhody suffered its eighth straight loss,

Set One - VCU 25, Rhode Island 23
A late collapse cost URI the opening set. Fueled by an 8-2 run that included a pair of Cara Richter aces, Rhody led 19-13 after an Emily Sawyer kill. An Erika Bracey kill later made the score 23-19, and URI appeared ready to close out the set. However, VCU scored the final six points to steal the opening frame.

Set Two - Rhode Island 25, VCU 12
There was no hangover from the end of the first set. Rhody dominated throughout, jumping out to a 10-5 lead for the second straight set and never letting up. Hannah Jonick had two aces, two block assists, one sole block and a kill to lead the way. URI hit .333 as a team (12 kills, 3 errors) while forcing VCU to a negative .034 attack percentage (6 kills, 7 errors).

Set Three - VCU 25, Rhode Island 16
It was VCU getting out to a quick start in the third, as the hosts led by as many as five points early. A solo block by Nina Boledovicova sent the teams into the technical timeout with VCU ahead 15-9. The lead grew to as many as nine at 19-10 before Rhody fought back. URI got to 20-15 on an ace by Jahan Lalli. On the next point, a ball that appeared long was ruled as a Rhode Island touch. The call was challenged, and despite solid looks at what seemed like no touches, the call was upheld. That killed the momentum, and VCU cruised the rest of the way for a 2-1 lead.

Set Four - VCU 25, Rhode Island 14
After digging an early hole and falling behind 6-1, Rhody fought back and managed to tie the set at 8-8, 9-9 and 10-10. From there VCU took control. Five service aces and a .345 attack percentage helped the hosts close out the match.

Inside the Box Score

• Emily Sawyer spearheaded the Rhode Island attack, drilling 12 kills with just one error in 22 attacks.
• Cara Richter added eight kills, three aces and three digs.
• Erika Bracey provided a boost with seven kills and just one error.
• Hannah Jonick had eight total blocks, including a pair of solo efforts
• McKenna Melton contributed seven kills and seven digs.
• Dakota Henry had 13 digs, seven assists and one kill.
• With her first dig of the match, Henry reached 900 for her career.

Up Next
Rhode Island and VCU are back at it Saturday, Oct. 10 at 12 p.m. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.