PHILADELPHIA - La Salle volleyball dropped straight sets, 3-0 (13-25, 17-25, 13-25) to Rhode Island on Friday afternoon. The program celebrated senior day with all three seniors, Rachel Melich, Anna Atiyeh, and Jennifer Whelan, starting the match together for the Explorers.
 
Sophomore Ashley Felton led the way on the day for the Explorers with seven kills while hitting .286. As a team the Rams were able to limit La Salle to just a .062 hitting percentage on the day, while hitting .337 themsleves. 
 
Set one saw Rhode Island pull away from an early deadlock, to grab a commanding 14-7 lead that they wouldn't look back from. After a junior Laura Kuhlmeier kill pulled things to 3-4, the Rams would go on to grab nine of the next 13 points to create some separation between the two teams. Felton, Kuhlmeier and freshman Hannah McGary paced the Explorers in the first set with two kills apiece. McGary hit .400 in the set converting on two of her five swings to go along with one block.
 
Set two saw more of the same as La Salle stuck with Rhode Island early before the Rams went on a run to finish off the set. A Jennifer Whelan kill brought things to within 6-4 early in the set. However, the Rams would open up leads of up to seven points throughout the set. Back-to-back kills from Ashley Felton and Hannah McGary opened up the possibility of a comeback with things at 20-15 late in the set, but ultimately the Rams would finish off the set 25-17. Felton again paced the Explorers with three kills, while Michelle Healy added four digs in the set.
 
Hannah McGary was efficient for the Explorers converting three of four swings for a .750 hitting percentage in the set, but it wasn't enough as Rhode Island finished off the match with a 25-13 set win. Rhode Island used three blocks to limit the Explorers attack in the frame.
 
Junior Erin Noga added a team high nine digs on the day, while classmates Kelly Perillo and Michelle Healy were close behind with eight and seven respectively. Healy also added 23 assists on the day in addition to a kill. Ashley Felton added three blocks on the day with Hannah McGary assisting on two of them.
 
La Salle (10-18, 3-8 A-10) returns to action on Friday, as they host Duquesne in what will be the final home regular season game of the year for the Explorers.