NEW LONDON, Conn.- The RWU volleyball team dropped a tough loss on the road at Connecticut College Tuesday, falling 26-24, 25-22, 25-23. The hosts improve to 3-4, while RWU moves to 8-4.

“It was an exciting match with every set going down to the wire,” said head coach Bret Stothart. “It is tough to see the 3-0 score when we know just seven points separated the two teams in the end.”

The first set was tight throughout, eventually moving to a 24-24 tie with the Hawks serving to go ahead. A Camel kill by senior Caitlin Tomaska (Solana Beach, Calif.) put the hosts ahead by one before RWU sophomore Brittney Sullivan (Nashua, N.H.) swung for the kill on set point, but a touch off the block was missed by the officials and Connecticut College took the 1-0 lead.

Tomaska finished the match with a game-high 15 kills on the outside to go along with 11 digs for the Camels. Sullivan posted an impressive .238 hitting percentage in the match, adding six digs and two block assists.

In the second set, the teams again went back and forth trading the lead until late when the Camels posted a three-point run to win, 25-22. Hawks freshman Michaela Ross (Old Bridge, N.J.) notched three kills and zero errors on six attempts, helping RWU to a .212 hitting percentage in the set.

In the third and final set, RWU junior Kristina Dolan (Glenmont, N.Y.) posted five kills and zero errors on eight attempts, leading to her team-high .273 hitting percentage for the match. Despite her strong play, the Hawks found themselves down late, 24-22, before her and freshman Natasha Sopchak (Rhinebeck, N.Y.) combined for a huge block to pull the Hawks to within one. After a nice pass and set, Tomaska this time hit past the inside of the block and sealed the victory for Connecticut College, 25-23.

RWU sophomore Jill Hurd (Sunapee, N.H.) led the team with 11 digs on the night, while passing a 1.000 efficiency with zero reception errors.

RWU returns to The Commonwealth Coast Conference play Saturday, traveling to Biddeford, Maine, to face the University of New England. In their last match, less than two weeks ago, RWU posted a 3-0 victory.