KINGSTON, R.I. - For the second time in her career, Rhode Island libero Dakota Henry has been named the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Week, the conference announced Monday afternoon.

A third-year libero out of Loveland, Ohio, Henry averaged 5.29 digs per set over the course of 14 sets at the CCSU Tournament. It was the highest average of any A10 player over the first weekend of play for the league. Henry was named to the CCSU All-Tournament Team after leading Rhode Island to victories over Siena, Holy Cross and CCSU, marking the first 3-0 start for the Rams in 12 years.

Henry recorded 20-plus digs in all three matches. She had 26 digs in the season opener against Siena, and followed that with a career-best 27 against Holy Cross. The 27 digs were the fifth most in a match in program history since the start of the Rally Point era (2001). In the final match against CCSU, she had 20 digs in four sets and was a key reason the Rams converted 61.6 percent of its sideout chances. For the weekend, Henry had a .915 serve-receive percentage, with just six errors in 71 chances.. She had zero receive errors against both Siena and Holy Cross.

Last season Henry was the A10 Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Nov. 3. She has topped 20 digs in seven of her last 12 matches, after reaching the milestone once in her first 52 career matches.

Henry and the Rams have their home opener Friday, Sept. 4 when URI hosts Bryant at 7 p.m. in Keaney Gymnasium. The match is part of the 2026 Ocean State Cup, with all four teams Division I programs from the state participating. The full schedule of the tournament is below, and admission to all matches is free.

2026 Ocean State Cup
Friday, Sept. 4
4 p.m. - Brown vs. Providence
7 p.m. - Bryant at Rhode Island

Saturday, Sept. 5
1 p.m. - Providence vs. Bryant
5 p.m. - Brown at Rhode Island

Sunday, Sept. 6
12 p.m. - Brown vs. Bryant
3 p.m. - Providence at Rhode Island