PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Rhode Island College held the Keene State College women's volleyball team under .100 attacking in all three sets as the host Anchorwomen went on to post their first Little East Conference victory of the season in six tries, sweeping the Owls 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-23) at The Murray Center on Saturday.

KSC (11-12, 3-4 LEC), who had won four straight overall and 16 of the last 17 against the Anchorwomen including the last five, saw their recent momentum halted and eliminated themselves from contention for a home conference tournament quarterfinal when the postseason gets underway on November 11.  They are still likely to qualify for the postseason, though if Rhode Island College (11-11, 1-5 LEC) and the Owls each tie at 3-5, KSC would be out.  The Owls can clinch a playoff spot with one more win or a RIC loss – with the Anchorwomen slated to travel to Western Connecticut State University on November 1 and host now last-place Vermont State University Castleton on November 8.  The Owls have a league bye next weekend before hosting WestConn in their regular season finale on November 8.

On a day where they could have locked up a playoff spot, the Owls were not in front much.  In the opening set, the hosts opened an early 10-5 edge on a kill by Sarina Marines and ballooned their lead to 16-7 on a block by Andrayah Williams.  KSC trimmed their nine-point deficit to as little as two (21-19), but Marines ended the run with a kill, and a block and two attacking errors later, the Owls fell behind in the match.

The only set Keene State played from in front for any length of time was the second, as three kills in a four-point span had the Owls in front 4-1.  It was still 7-4 after a RIC error, but the hosts used a 7-2 push to take a two-point lead and never trailed again.  KSC tied it twice, including at 18-18 following a team block from Ava Harkins and Katie Taylor followed by a Delia Ryan ace, but immediately surrendered the next three.  They were down two four subsequent times, but never scored consecutive points again, and Sydnee Pires' spike put RIC up 2-0 in the match after a 25-22 victory.

Colleen Fraser began the third with a pair of kills, but a massive 13-1 burst from the Anchorwomen had KSC in a deep hole quickly.  The Owls got the serve back after a RIC error at 7-3 but missed on the next serve and then saw Carolyn Bailey serve up five consecutive points – one on her own ace and three others on kills (two by Pires).  Down 13-3 and later 19-10, KSC kept fighting – getting within 20-16 on a block by Sarah Bartels and Taylor and 22-20 after four more points in a row.  The Owls' momentum was halted by two straight attacking errors to give RIC match point, but KSC staved it off three times and threatened to force extra points before Annaliese Rudberg's setting miscue handed the Owls a damaging loss.

Keene State's .066 hitting percentage as a team was their worst since a .050 mark against Wheaton College (Mass.) on September 20.  They had gone 7-3 since.

"We could not do much," said KSC head coach Jacob Girard.  "We missed too many serves, had too many hitting errors, and setting in and out of system was inconsistent.  Our passing was bad."

The Owls' straight set loss against the Anchorwomen was their first in 28 years – the only other in series history coming in 1997.  RIC had won only two sets total in the last six meetings.

Lauren Bender had a strong effort individually for the Owls, finishing with eight kills (.250 pct.) and seven digs.  Rudberg added five kills on 10 attempts without an error, but KSC struggled mightily with the Anchorwomen at the net, getting blocked eight times.  The Owls were minus-six in blocks and minus-nine in digs.

"Lauren Bender and Rud had a good day, but overall I am not sure what happened – too early of a bus ride, missing Marina (Miller) from the lineup, I am not sure.  But I know there are no excuses, you have to be ready when it is time to play and we were not, and that is why we lost."

Rhode Island College was paced by 10 kills apiece from Maria Colonis (.240 pct.) and Marines (.167 pct.), with the pair also combining for 19 digs.

Keene State has three non-conference matches before closing the conference slate on the final day of the regular season, beginning with a trip to New England College (8-15, 5-4 GNAC) on Tuesday (November 4) at 6:00 p.m.  The Pilgrims have not won consecutive matches since September 5 when they swept Husson University and Vermont State University Johnson in a tri-match.  The Owls host Mount Holyoke College on Halloween night (Friday) at 6:00 p.m.