Rhode Island Starters
Johnson, Abuto, Rolle, Richter, Thomas, Keaney, Henry (L)
Bryant Starters
Koeller, Talmadge, Jackson, Lewandowski, Olatunde, Curran, Barron (L)
How it Happened
Rhode Island (3-1) suffered its first loss of the season, falling in three sets to Bryant 25-22, 25-18, 25-20 on the opening day of the Ocean State Cup Friday.
The offensive efficiency of Bryant (2-3) was the difference in the match. Led by Layla Olatunde, the visiting Bulldogs hit .315 on the night, getting 49 kills with just 14 errors in 111 attacks. Olatunde had a match-best 13 kills with one error in 19 swings, good for a .632 hitting percentage.
Set One - Bryant 25, Rhode Island 22
Rhode Island appeared to have the momentum late in the set, thanks to the serving of
Carly Thomas. Trailing 18-16, the Rams used a 5-0 run that included three Thomas aces to pull ahead 21-18. Following a Bryant timeout, the teams traded the next two points, leaving Rhody with a 22-19 lead. The Bulldogs scored the final six points of the set, as a pair of Carrina Barron aces and kills from Cara Lewandowski and Layla Olatunde keyed the run.
Set Two - Bryant 25, Rhode Island 18
The second set was tight for the first 22 points, as there were six lead changes and seven ties through that point. Rhody had the biggest lead of the early going, moving ahead 9-6 after a
Havyn Rolle kill. However, Bryant steadily pulled away from there. After a Hannah Jackson kill put the Bulldogs up 11-10, the set was never tied again. Jackson and Brookelyn Talmadge each had four kills without an error to lead the late surge.
Set Three - Bryant 25, Rhode Island 20
Rhode Island led by as many as three points on three separate times during the third set. A
McKenna Melton kill from
Carly Thomas put the Rams up 13-10. However, Bryant used a 5-0 run that featured two Kaitlin Curran kills to move ahead 15-10, and the never trailed again.
Inside the Box Score
- Cara Richter led Rhode Island with nine kills and added seven digs.
- Carly Thomas had 14 assists, six digs and four service aces.
- Three of her aces came in a four-point span of the first set.
- Emily Sawyer had eight kills with just one error and hit .389 for the match.
- She also added three blocks
- KJ Johnson had five kills and one ace.
- Dakota Henry had 11 digs and six assists.
- Jahan Lalli provided 11 assists and three digs.
- In the first match of the Ocean State Cup, Providence defeated Brown, 3-2.
Up Next
Rhode Island plays Brown Saturday at 4 p.m. Earlier in the day, Providence and Bryant will play at 1 p.m. Both matches will stream on ESPN+.
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