KINGSTON, R.I. – La Salle (11-11, 5-5) defeated Rhode Island (6-15, 1-8) in straight sets Friday night, in the process rising to fifth in the A-10 standings courtesy of Davidson and Duquesne losses. The Explorers win, their fourth straight over the Rams, was bolstered by double-doubles from senior Kathryn Wood and junior Samantha Graver, along with a career-high, 19-dig night from junior Allison Laucella.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The two teams sized each other up in the early going, neither budging until La Salle took an early 9-4 lead. The home side answered by going on a 6-1 run that knotted things up, and it would remain tied until the Explorers stretched the game out by jumping to a 19-14 advantage. The Rams would not go easily on their home court; a 9-3 jaunt edged them in front, 23-22. The Explorers showed grit in the key moment by responding with a 4-1 run that won them the first frame.
• There was virtually no separation in the second set. Unlike the previous edition where the Blue & Gold took an early lead, neither side held more than a three-point advantage until late. With the score locked at 16-16, Rhode Island embarked on a 6-1 surge that put it up 22-17. But again, La Salle would not let up, and a 6-1 response of its own put them up with set point. The Rams countered, but the visitors eventually edged them out.
• The third frame was a mirror image to the last in how tightly contested the initial proceedings were. The first real lead was with La Salle up 17-13, which the Rams closed to one, which the Explorers reopened to 20-17, which Rhode Island tied, which La Salle re-stretched to three—courtesy of kills from Wood, Graver and freshman Marisa Guisti. The home side would get within two, but a kill from senior Devin Corah cemented the sweep.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Good teams finish sets. That was a lesson learned against VCU last Sunday and it was one that the Explorers enforced on Friday. La Salle put itself in position to win with six set-point opportunities, while denying the Rams to reach set point once.
• Along with Laucella's night, four other Explorers reached double-digit digs: freshman Rachel Hess with 16, Wood on 15, redshirt freshman Sarah Nahas with 13, and Graver with 12.
• Graver added a game-high 18 kills and Wood finished with 38 assists to give them 14 and 13 respectively. Graver extends her career-best in that category while Wood ties her season-most in double-doubles.
• Graver joins Corah and senior Catherine Edgington as the trio of players with double-digit kills against the Rams.
• The Explorers led in points, kills, assists and digs in this game—a usual tale for the Blue & Gold. Unusual, however, is the fact that the visitors out-blocked Rhode Island 5-3 and lost the service ace battle 5-3.

UP NEXT

• La Salle will look to cement its playoff position as it takes on Fordham on Sunday at 1 p.m.