The University of Rhode Island had a busy week of sports with the men’s and women’s cross country teams competing in the Atlantic 10 Championships, volleyball defeating Virginia Commonwealth University 3-2, women’s soccer besting Davidson College 3-0, and swimming and diving sweeping the Ed & Judy Golden Invitational.
Cross Country
Rhode Island’s men and women’s cross country teams would start their respective postseasons this past weekend at the A-10 Conference Championships in Mechanicsville, Va, but finished near the bottom of their leaderboards
The men’s team finished twelfth out of 14 teams in competition with an average time of 26:22 around the five-mile course. The men’s team was led by sophomore Timothy Slack who finished 49th overall with a time of 25:58.0. The women’s team would place thirteenth, running the five –kilometer course in an average of 18:45. The team was led by senior Paige Ethier who had a team high best time of 18:22.8, good enough for 42nd overall.
Volleyball
Rhode Island’s volleyball team (14-9, 9-2 A-10) visited VCU this past weekend, where they would end up winning in a dramatic five-setter. VCU looked like they were going to take the win from the Rams for the majority of the match. Rhode Island would rally back from a 13-10 fifth set deficit (only 15 points needed in final set) to leave Virginia with the 3-2 victory. The Rams were led by double-doubles from senior Audrey Castro (13 digs, 21 kills), and junior Kylee Wolfe (10 kills, 11 digs). With the victory, the team moves into second place in the A-10 conference standings, which will give them a first round A-10 Conference Tournament bye if they hang on for their last three games.
Women’s Soccer
URI’s women’s soccer team (6-7-5, 3-4-3 A-10) ended their regular season with flare, defeating Davidson College 3-0 at the URI Soccer Complex on senior night.
Senior midfielder Nicole Brennan scored the first goal in the 24th minute for her fourth of the season. The Rams would enter halftime still with a 1-0 lead against the Wildcats. Senior Taylor Ross would double the lead in the 54th minute as she scored an unassisted goal, and sophomore Madison Waldron would add a third goal with the game already clinched and just thirty seconds remaining in the match.
The shutout helped Rhode Island reach the postseason as they will be the eighth seed in the A-10 Conference Tournament. The team’s first game will be this Thursday, Nov. 3 against St. Joseph’s University at the URI Soccer Complex at 5:00 p.m.
Swimming and Diving
Rhode Island swimming and diving would improve to a spotless record of 4-0 on the season, after sweeping their competition at the Ed & Judy Golden Invitational this past Saturday. The Rams would compete against the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Bears & Springfield Pride where they would defeat the Black Bears, 162-122, before defeating the Pride comfortably 174-117.
Rhode Island took 10 top spots at the Invitational, Including a first place finish for the 200-yard medley relay team with a time of 1:50.00. The team consisted of seniors Lauren Folkert and Carly DeLiberty, and sophomores Caitlyn Blake and Eliza Anderson.
URI will go on the road for the first time this season to compete against Providence College this coming Friday at 5 p.m.