KINGSTON, R.I. – Rhode Island will make is fifth appearance at the NCAA Women's Rowing Championship, which begins Friday. Three days of racing for 22 schools at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Fla. will determine the 2021 national champion.

­­The Rams are making their third straight appearance at the championship, and the fifth in program history. This will be the second time Rhody is competing at the championship in Sarasota, as it is the same site as the 2018 NCAA Championship.

Seeded 21st out of 22 teams, Rhode Island's Varsity 8+ will be the first on the water for the Rams Friday morning. The team of coxswain Olivia Bleier, stroke Anna Sampson, Emily Winslow, Sarah Dudinski, Kat Gillies, Catie Castle, Katie Usher, Jennae Alexander and Kira McCully will be in Heat 4 of its flght, racing at 9:36 a.m. The other schools in URI's V8+ flight are No. 4 Virginia, No. 5 Michigan, No. 12 Duke, No. 13 Washington State and No. 20 Northeastern.

Rhode Island's team of coxswain Danielle Swan, stroke  Julia Fortin, Erin Shober, Kathy Zeglen, Nicole Jones, Morgan Cody, Emory Caswell, Josephine Grady and Tinsley Copeland is seeded No. 19 in the Second Varsity 8+ flight. They will race at 10:12 a.m. against No. 3 Virginia, No. 6 Ohio State, No. 11 Syracuse, No. 14 Wisconsin and No. 22 Marsit.
 
In the Varsity 4+ flight, the Rams contingent of coxswain Alison Gorriarán, stroke Emily Olin, Lauren Thomas, Hannah Bachert and Emily Drappeau is seeded No. 19. Rhody will race against No. 3 Michigan, No. 6 Ohio State, No. 11 Syracuse, No. 14 California and No. 22 Marist.

The results of the morning heats will determine each team's afternoon schedule. The top two boats in each flight automatically advance to the A/B Semifinals on Saturday. The rest of the teams will move on to Friday's Repechage round (schedule below).

The entire championship will stream live on NCAA.com. Live results and heat sheets will be available on the NCAA.com Rowing page.

NCAA Championship Race Schedule
Division I
Friday Morning
9:36 a.m. – Varsity 8+ Heat 4
#20 Northeastern – Lane 1
#12 Duke – Lane 2
#4 Virginia – Lane 3
#5 Michigan – Lane 4
#13 Washington State – Lane 5
#21 Rhode Island – Lane 6

10:12 a.m. – Second Varsity 8+ Heat 3
#19 Rhode Island – Lane 1
#11 Syracuse – Lane 2
#3 Virginia – Lane 3
#6 Ohio State – Lane 4
#14 Wisconsin – Lane 5
#22 Marist – Lane 6

11:00 a.m. – Varsity 4+ Heat 3
#19 Rhode Island – Lane 1
#11 Syracuse – Lane 2
#3 Michigan – Lane 3
#6 Ohio State – Lane 4
#14 California – Lane 5
#22 Marist – Lane 6

Friday Afternoon
4:12 p.m. – Varsity 8+ Repechage 1
4:24 p.m. – Varsity 8+ Repechage 2
4:36 p.m. – Second Varsity 8+ Repechage 1
4:48 p.m. – Second Varsity 8+ Repechage 2
5:00 p.m. – Varsity 4+ Repechage 1
5:12 p.m. – Varsity 4+ Repechage 2

Saturday
8:12 a.m. – Varsity 8+ C/D Semifinal
8:24 a.m. – Varsity 8+ C/D Semifinal
8:36 a.m. – Varsity 8+ A/B Semifinal
8:48 a.m. – Varsity 8+ A/B Semifinal
9:00 a.m. – Second Varsity 8+ C/D Semifinal
9:12 a.m. – Second Varsity 8+ C/D Semifinal
9:24 a.m. – Second Varsity 8+ A/B Semifinal
9:36 a.m. – Second Varsity 8+ A/b Semifinal
9:48 a.m. – Varsity 4+ C/D Semifinal
10:00 a.m. – Varsity 4+ C/D Semifinal
10:12 a.m. – Varsity 4+ A/B Semifinal
10:24 a.m. – Varsity 4+ A/B Semifinal

Sunday
8:12 a.m. – Varsity 4+ D Final (places 19-22)
8:24 a.m. – Varsity 4+ C Final (places 13-18)
8:36 a.m. – Second Varsity 8+ D Final (places 19-22)
8:48 a.m. – Second Varsity 8+ C Final (places 13-18)
9:00 a.m. –Varsity 8+ D Final (places 19-22)
9:12 a.m. –Varsity 8+ C Final (places 13-18)
9:48 a.m. – Varsity 4+ Petite Final (places 7-12)
10:00 a.m. – Varsity 4+ Grand Final (places 1-6)
10:12 a.m. – Second Varsity 8+ Petite Final (places 7-12)
10:24 a.m. – Second Varsity 8+ Grand Final (places 1-6)
10:36 a.m. – Varsity 8+ Petite Final (places 7-12)
10:48 a.m. –Varsity 8+ Grand Final (places 1-6)