The University of Rhode Island women’s volleyball team finished its season over the weekend against Davidson College, picking up set wins in both matches but ultimately getting swept by the Wildcats.
Playoffs were a possibility for URI entering its final matches of the season, but it would have required a sweep against Davidson, among other factors around the Atlantic 10.
“Just to have a chance with two games to go, it kind of exceeded the expectation of anybody in our program from preseason,” Rhode Island Head Coach Ryan Sullivan said.
The Rams struggled in Friday’s first set, opening with a 25-12 loss. Davidson strung together a seven-point run to put themselves ahead 22-11 before closing the set with a service ace from first-year libero Chloe Popkin.
Davidson held on to a close second set victory to take a commanding two-set lead. The set was within three points prior to a late push from the Wildcats. Trailing 21-16, the Rams fought back with a 6-1 run to reach a one-point deficit. URI finished the set by allowing three straight points, once again ending with a service ace by Popkin.
URI trailed 9-2 in the third set but fought back to avoid the sweep. A seven-point run gave the Rams a three-point lead, which they never relinquished en route to a 25-21 win.
“We’ve found ourselves in that position plenty of times this year,” Sullivan said. “We have been calling ourselves the comeback kids.”
The Wildcats dominated the fourth set to close out Friday’s match, earning a 25-13 set win. An eight-point run was followed by a six-point run to finish off a 3-1 victory for Davidson.
Now officially eliminated from playoff contention, URI entered their final match of the season on Saturday with nothing to lose. The Rams started the match with a tight 25-23 win after allowing six straight points to open the set. Tied at 23 late in the set, kills from second-year middle blocker Megan Disu and fourth-year outside hitter Emma Vente closed the set.
“When the momentum is on our side we are really dangerous,” Sullivan said. “I think that comes down to the mental toughness aspect that we’re trying to build and improve upon.”
Momentum failed to stay with Rhode Island for the remainder of the match as Davidson took the following three sets. The Rams scored 12 points in the second, before bouncing back with 20 points in the third. URI concluded its season with a 25-13 loss in the fourth set.
Rhode Island wrapped up its winningest season since 2021 with a 9-22 overall record and a 4-14 record in conference play. Compared to last year, the team has more than doubled their win total and finished with three more conference wins.
“Everybody’s been telling us how such a great job that we’ve been doing this year,” Sullivan said. “We can’t help but feel that we underachieved though…I don’t want to shy away from how proud we are of the team and their developments this year. We just want more.”
Sullivan will have his first full offseason as Rhode Island’s head coach in the spring after being hired in July.
“We have a really good foundation for the program,” Sullivan said. “I can’t be more excited for the spring.”
The offseason will be the first chance for Sullivan to recruit players alongside with his assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Marissa Soistman.
“We have a couple more spots to fill on our roster for ‘25,” Sullivan said. “Where do we go with those two or three pieces that we still want to bring in? We think that our culture is in a really good spot right now, we don’t want to bring somebody in that’s going to mess with that.”
URI now looks forward to 2025, as the team hopes to improve around its young core and build off of a promising season.