Volleyball Blanked by RIC

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Rhode Island College cruised to a 3-0 (25-10, 25-14, 25-16) victory over Mitchell College on Saturday afternoon in non-conference women's volleyball action at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

The Anchorwomen (3-6 overall) hit .412 for the contest and finished with 38 total kills against 10 errors. Michelle Malboeuf and Lauren Palazzini each recorded 10 kills while Abigayl White handed out 30 assists. Freshman Myia Williams led Mitchell with four kills on the afternoon.

Rhode Island set the tone in the opening set, using a 7-0 run on the serve of Megan Armburg to jump out to a 7-1 lead. An 8-0 run later gave the Anchorwomen an 18-8 advantage, and they captured seven of the final nine points to close out the set. Palazzini and Malboeuf each contributed five kills in the stanza as Rhode Island recorded 14 kills on 18 attacks with zero errors.

Mitchell got off a 4-0 lead in the second set on the serve of junior Nicole Caminiti, but the Anchorwomen responded by winning 16 of the next 17 points to seize control. Armburg served for three aces and 11 straight points during the stretch, and Rhode Island eventually extended the lead to 20-6. The Mariners countered with a 6-0 run of their own that included three straight service aces from freshman Janelle Rice, but the deficit was too large to overcome.

Rhode Island vaulted out to a 9-2 lead in the third and never looked back. Malboeuf added five more kills in the stanza to reach double digits on the day.

Caminiti finished with team highs of 10 assists and six digs for the Mariners.

Mitchell will next host UMass Dartmouth on Wednesday, September 24 at 6:30 p.m. Rhode Island College returns to action at UMass Boston on Tuesday, September 23 at 6 p.m.