Coming off of their first Atlantic 10 win of the year, the University of Rhode Island women’s volleyball team could not keep up the momentum against the St. Louis University Billikens over the weekend.
Rhode Island took only one set between a pair of matches at St. Louis’ Chaifetz Pavilion, as Saturday’s match saw the hosts make quick work of the visiting Rams in a three-set sweep. While Sunday’s match was slightly more competitive, it was not enough for URI, who lost once again in four sets.
The hosts came to play from the outset in match one, shifting an initial 9-9 tie into an eight-point gap in the first set. The early 8-0 run set the momentum for the Billikens, who never let Rhode Island within five points of their lead on top of 12 kills, three service aces and a .200 hitting percentage. They eventually won the opening set 25-17.
Rhode Island responded with a 5-1 run of their own to start the second set, quickly taking a 6-2 lead. However, they could not keep hold of St. Louis, who fought back with a 9-1 run of their own – including five straight points – to retake the 15-10 lead, one from which they never looked back. Although a service ace from first-year Ryleigh Powers and a pair of kills from first-year Madi Disu and third-year Samantha Blahut helped bring the set back within two points, the Billikens responded with four service aces of their own and a 10-2 scoring run to keep their distance. They eventually won the set 25-15, firmly in cruise control with a 2-0 set lead.
“We trained pretty hard in practice, I just don’t think we played how we practiced,” second-year outside hitter Aerin Bowman said. “I think we were a little disappointed in how we played on Saturday.”
Following an early 3-3 tie, the Billikens took complete control of the decisive set ealy. A 12-2 run, fueled by three-straight service aces from second-year Addy Polk to match her career high, helped the Billikens extend their lead to as much as 17-16. By the time Rhode Island managed a four-point scoring run of their own, the effort wasn’t enough for the Rams, who dropped the third set 25-13 to complete the St. Louis sweep. Throughout the match, the hosts had the edge in kills (34-20), assists (27-16) and aces (13-3), while the Rams suffered 24 errors to the Billikens’ 12.
“[We talked about] really controlling the intangibles,” URI Head Coach Angel Agu said. “Making sure that we’re communicating…that our effort is relentless and undeniable and that we’re continuing to be really good teammates. I thought there was huge improvements in those non-measurable components [on Sunday].”
Sunday’s match was a similar story – although Rhode Island managed six kills as a team in the first set and kept it close throughout, they trailed early and could never come within as many as three points as St. Louis opened the day with a 25-21 set win.
The Rams would continue to test the Billikens in the second set, this time coming within a point of tying the match in a set that featured seven different ties and five different lead changes. Hitting .343 as a team in the set with a 24-22 set point, Rhode Island were within touching distance of the second set before the Billikens rattled off three straight service kills to deny three-straight Rhode Island set points and take the 28-26 win.
Refusing to go down without a fight, Rhode Island came out swinging in the third set, taking an early 14-11 lead and holding St. Louis to a .133 hitting percentage through the duration. The Billikens clawed their way back to as little as a one-point gap, but the Rams eventually rallied to take a 23-18 lead, fueled by a service ace from first-year Hope Passerello and a kill from third-year Andrea Owens. Owens and first-year Emma Vente eventually combined for the final two kills to end the set, giving Rhode Island a lifeline with a 25-20 third set win.
“There was a huge turnaround in how the team performed [on Sunday],” Bowman said. “We played as a team a lot more…we played a lot better and we played a lot harder.”
Unfortunately for Rhode Island, the third set was as far as their comeback hopes would take them. The fourth set initially got off to a flying start for the visitors, who took a quick 8-1 lead, but St. Louis rallied back with a 9-1 run of their own to re-take the lead at 10-9, and never looked back from there. Although the Rams were able to tie it at 13 and keep the deficit within two points until the late stages, a 5-2 Billikens run ultimately ended the match – a 25-20 fourth set score that confirmed a winless weekend for the Rams.
“We have a team of competitors,” Agu said. “It’s natural to have a loss and not feel great about it, but my thing is, can we keep our memories short?…Tomorrow is a new day, and I think you’re defeated once you start to dwell on that stuff…I’m proud of the leaders we have on this team.”
Up next for Rhode Island: a return home to face a nationally-ranked University of Dayton squad for a senior night doubleheader over the weekend as their regular season schedule inches towards the finish line. Matches will be played on Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. in Keaney Gymnasium, and both will be streamed on ESPN+.