Seahawks tabbed CCC runner's up on Saturday

BRISTOL, R.I. – The Salve Regina University volleyball team was defeated 3-0 (25-13, 25-18, 25-25-15) in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championship finals by Roger Williams University which claimed its fourth consecutive CCC title on Saturday.

Clare Adams (New Concord, Ohio) led Salve Regina with eight kills. Katelyn Beauregard (Dartmouth, Mass.) had seven kills, while Jennifer Duggan (Merrimack, N.H.) finished with six kills, ten digs, and a pair of assists. Taylor Violet (Tiverton, R.I.) had 21 assists to go along with four kills and six digs.

The first set started with a kill by Krystie Luczynski (Kensington, Conn.), before Salve came back to tie the set at three on a kill by Katelyn Beauregard. Andrea Gorman (Wilbraham, Mass.) answered with a kill of her own for RWU, sparking a 9-1 run for the Hawks. Salve pulled within six (9-15) on an RWU service error, but would never come closer over the remainder of the match. Luczysnki would end the set the same way it started, spiking the game-winning point to give RWU a 1-0 lead.

In the second set, the Hawks jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead before Emily Lipinski (Hampden, Mass.) knocked down a kill to put the Seahawks on the board. Salve Regina played the Hawks close throughout the set, staying with four points early on. Taylor Violet put down a point to ultimately tie the game at 15 and force an RWU timeout. After the break, the Hawks rolled off a 6-1 run, helped in part by four Seahawk errors. Roger Williams eventually came away with the 25-18 win on back-to-back Seahawk errors.

Roger Williams opened up the third set on another 4-0 run, leading to a 12-3 Hawk lead. Roger Williams stayed in control through most of the set, including getting back-to-back solo blocks by Luczynski to take a commanding 15-4 lead. RWU led 22-8 before Salve put up a late rally, scoring five straight points to make it 22-13. Yet the run was not enough, with Kelsey Twarog (Barkhamsted, Conn.) securing the 25-15 win with a kill and clinching another CCC title for the Hawks.

Luczynski finished with a match-high 12 kills on .550 hitting while adding six blocks (two solo, four assists) for Roger Williams. Twarog and Elizabeth Flaherty (Sloatsburg, N.Y.) each added ten kills apiece. Nicole Weber (Poulsbo, Wash.) handed out 30 assists, while Kelsee Loche (Millis, Mass.) went for 16 digs and three service aces.

The top-seeded Hawks (21-10) earn the automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament, which begins next weekend. Roger Williams will find out its opponent on Monday during the NCAA Selection Show. Salve Regina's record falls to 17-13 on the season.

Courtesy of RWU Sports Information