Chicopee, Mass.—Rhode Island College Head Coach Jenn Cabral picked up her first collegiate win as the Rhode Island College women's volleyball team defeated Elms, 3-2, in the two clubs' season-opener on Thursday afternoon.
 
THE BASICS
Rhode Island College 3, Elms 2
Rhode Island College (1-0)
Elms (0-1)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• RIC and Elms went down to the wire in the first set, having to go to extra time to decide who would pick up the first point of the match. With the set tied at 27 apiece, senior outside hitter Amelia Murphy (North Attleboro, Mass.) notched a kill and a service ace on back-to-back plays to secure the victory.
 
• The Anchorwomen and Blazers would trade sets back and forth until the final and deciding frame. Elms won set two (25-20) and set four (25-21), while the visitors claimed set three (25-20).
 
• In the final set, drama ensued when, again, both teams went into extra time to decide a victor. Elms held a commanding 13-7 lead, but the Anchorwomen would outscore the hosts, 12-4, to claim their first victory of the season.
 
• Murphy had a double-double with 17 kills, 15 digs and also chipped in with five service aces.
 
• Sophomore outside hitter Rhiannon Hodovanec (Feeding Hills, Mass.) also had a double-double, with a 10-kill, 17-dig performance. She matched Murphy with five service aces.
 
• Sophomore setter Sydney Green (West Warwick, R.I.) handed out a team-high 28 assists.
 
• Elms senior outside hitter Jaylianne Ramos (Boca Raton, Fla.) and freshman outside hitter Alysha Izquierdo (Holyoke, Mass.) each recorded a double-double, with Ramos registering 18 kills and 11 digs and Izquierdo totaling 10 kills and 17 digs.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
• RIC hit .160 (44-19-156), while the hosts hit .153 (50-23-176)
 
• The Anchorwomen led in blocks (4-1) and aces (15-14), while the Blazers held the advantage in both kills and digs.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will host Salem State on Tuesday, Sept. 6 (6 p.m.).