KINGSTON, R.I. – Volleyball concluded its regular season with a four-set defeat to Rhode Island on Saturday. The Explorers took the opening frame, but the Rams rallied the rest of the way and prevailed in two close final sets.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• La Salle jumped out to a 7-3 lead and pushed its advantage to 14-7 early. Rhode Island rattled off three straight, but the Explorers were up to the task, outscoring the Rams 11-8 to take the first set.
• The hosts flipped the script in the second, getting out to a 6-1 lead. The Blue & Gold closed to within three at 12-9, but Rhode island wouldn't allow the Explorers an avenue back into the set at and outscored the Explorers 13-8 to tie the match.
• La Salle started off the third on a 4-1 run and held a slim lead until 10-8. A 9-4 run from the home team gave it a temporary advantage, which a 6-1 jaunt from the Explorers erased. With the visitors up 20-18, the Rams responded with a 7-3 stretch to come back and take the set.
• Rhode Island surged to a 13-5 lead to start the fourth frame. La Salle chipped away at the deficit and eventually tied things at 17-17. The Explorers then continued to ride their hot streak with four of the next five points. A 5-1 run from the Rams gave them the lead again, 23-22. Kills from freshman Yaiza Franco and sophomore Sydney Stone put La Salle at set point. The hosts tied it at 24-24, Stone struck again for set point, but three points unanswered from the Rams won them the match.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Junior Elizabeth Osborn led all players with 18 kills. She added 12 digs and three blocks in an all-around game.
• Stone was the other Explorer with double-digit kills, tallying 11 to go along with 10 digs.
• Senior Reilly Lowe finished with nine kills on an effective .333 hitting, also tallying three blocks.
• Along with Osborn and Stone, redshirt sophomore also recorded a double double with 38 assists and 12 digs.
• As a team, the Blue & Gold held a slight edge in kills (48-44), assists (45-42) and digs (55-54). Its hitting percentage of .183 was also better than the Rams' .152.
• The Explorers hit .242 in the opening frame and out-killed Rhode Island 13-7. They hit .273 in the final frame.