Rams take Billikens to five sets in both losses
Brynne Wright, who is second on the team in kills, digs for a ball. PHOTO CREDIT: gorhody.com
The University of Rhode Island Volleyball team kept it close throughout, but ultimately fell short as they lost two matches against the Saint Louis Billikens this past weekend in five sets to drop to 4-11 on the season.
While the end results were not what the Rams were hoping for, URI Head Coach Angel Agu said her team showed promise against a stout Billikens squad.
“They’re a really tough team, they’re a physical team,” Agu said. “I think we continue to show signs of growth, although the scores don’t show that.”
Friday’s match began with Rhody nearly rallying back in the first set. After Saint Louis jumped out to a 22-17 lead, the Rams won eight of the following 11 points, sending the visitors into a timeout with just a one point lead. URI then tied it at 25, but the Billikens won the next two points to close out the set 27-25.
The following two sets both ended in identical fashion, as Rhody took a 2-1 match lead after a pair of 25-20 set wins. The second set was very much back-and-forth, as both teams remained within two points until a 3-0 URI run late allowed the Rams to close out at a comfortable distance. The third set was Rhody’s from the start, jumping out to a 4-0 lead and never looking back.
Similarly to the first set, Saint Louis pulled away late in a back-and-forth set four 25-23 to force a fifth and final set. Despite a 4-1 lead to start, the Billikens took eight of the last 10 points to take the first match 3-2.
Senior Claire Wagner finished out the night with 21 kills and sophomore Katie Butler dished out 44 assists, both of which were game-highs. Wagner and Butler have both risen to the occasion and “taken leadership roles” early on in the season, according to Agu.
Wagner, now in her fifth season, has been a consistent part of the rotation for URI this season and prides herself on being a mentor for her teammates.
“It’s definitely a lot more pressure, but pressure is a privilege,” she said. “Being able to be that rock for them is a big role that I’m trying to fill.”
Saturday’s rematch between both teams was another five-set marathon, with URI and Saint Louis alternating set wins until the final set. The first set was the closest, with both teams in a stalemate seven different times before a four-point burst pushed the Rams to take the first lead with a 25-20 set victory. The Billikens led by as much as nine in their 25-17 second-set victory, while Rhody handedly won the third 25-13 by a twelve-point margin — their largest lead of the weekend.
Both teams were neck-and-neck to start the fourth, but a Saint Louis 9-0 run midway through the set put them ahead 16-9, eventually holding on 25-17. Once again in the fifth set, the Billikens came out on top, never trailing on their way to a series sweep and their second 3-2 win of the weekend.
Wagner put together a season-high 23 kills in the loss with a .296 attack percentage; her second highest rate on the year. Senior Gabrielle Shilling had both blocks on the day for Rhody.
Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Agu said her team is focusing on closing out and finishing matches strong.
“We have all the pieces, and now it’s ‘okay, how can we put it together?’” she said.
Rhody will face VCU for the first time Friday at 6 p.m. at the Siegel Center before returning for the second match on Saturday at 5 p.m. Both matches will be streamed live on ESPN+.