Seahawks fall to Hawks in five

BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University women's volleyball closes out Salve Regina in five-set Commonwealth Coast Conference show down, 3-2 (24-26, 25-15, 25-27, 25-20, 15-12). The Hawks improve to 26-2 overall and 5-1 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference while Salve Regina drops to 22-3 overall and 5-1 in the CCC.

In the first set the Hawks controlled a small lead that they stretched to 24-19.  With set point on them the Seahawks scrapped and rallied for seven straight points to take the first set.

With her sixth kill in the match, Salve Regina senior Clare Adams (New Concord, Ohio) became the school's all-time leader, now with 931, after passing Deanna Salter '09 who finished with 924 career kills.

The Hawks rebounded in the following game and settled into a good offensive rhythm to take the second set 25-15. Nicole Weber (Poulsbo, Wash.) took over the setting duties and led the Hawks to 13 kill on 27 attempts for .370 hitting percentage.  The Seahawks managed only seven kills on 24 attempts to hit .125.

The third set saw the Seahawks control a small lead most of the game before the Hawks tied it at 24 all.  The teams traded kill before the Hawks dropped the set with two errors.

The Seahawks jumped out to a four point lead to open the fourth set.  The Hawks managed to chip away and trade points to tie it up at 8 all.  The Hawks defense stiffened and gained RWU a four point advantage at 16-12 that they maintained for the rest of the set.

The fifth set opened with Salve Regina grabbing the first three points before senior middle blocker Krystie Luczynski (Kensington, Conn.) sided out for the Hawks.  Luczynski would give the Hawks four more kills in the front row before rotating back to serve at 9-6.  The teams traded point until back to back hitting errors by the Hawks leveled the game at 11 all.  RWU took a timeout and upon returning to action sided out with a kill from freshman middle blocker Brittany McMullen (Lancaster, Pa.).  Freshman libero, Darian Tredennick (Houston, Texas) put the ball into play with a 12-11 lead but Save Regina's junior outside hitter Jennifer Duggan (Merrimack, N.H.) found a kill to square it up at 12. With Luczynski back in the front row the Hawks got her two attempts that resulted in two kills and two points to put the set at 14-12 and forced Salve final timeout.  Freshman outside hitter Kristen Boyer put her serve in play and the Seahawks were unable to side out to extend the match.

Salve Regina was led by Katelyn Beauregard (Dartmouth, Mass.) who had 14 kills and hit .294 on the night.  Left side attackers, Duggan and Adams both produced double-doubles with each chipping in 12 kills, 15 and 14 digs respectively.  Junior libero, Dianna Tauro (Melrose, Mass.) added 15 digs patrolling the back court for the Seahawks.

RWU also received double-double performances form two outside hitters.  Sophomore, Elizabeth Flaherty (Sloatsburg, N.Y.) terminated on 13 sets and picked up 19 digs while freshman Kristen Boyer (Ephrata, Pa.) put away 15 kills and grabbed 11 digs.  Sarah McAniff (Redding, Conn.) chipped in seven kills and 13 digs with classmate Tredennick added two service aces and 12 digs of her own.  Weber set a new personal career high for her 55 assist in the match. 

Salve Regina will return to action at home to take on the University of New England on Saturday, October 26 at 1 p.m., honoring seniors Adams and Jill Diffendaffer (Centennial, Colo.) before the match.