BRISTOL, R.I.- The RWU Women's Volleyball Team defeated both Rhode Island College and Johnson & Wales University Saturday to win the Division III Rhode Island Championship Tournament. The two victories extend the Hawks' winning streak to seven-straight, while improving to 14-8 overall.

In the first match of the day RWU faced host RIC, winning the first set, 25-21, before falling in a tough second set, 30-28. The Hawks bounced back from the setback and rolled to victory in the next two sets, 25-16 and 25-19.

Senior Kristina Dolan (Glenmont, N.Y.) totaled a game-high 16 kills in the four sets, while junior Rebekah Dion (Old Saybrook, Conn.) recorded 10 kills along with 11 blocks. Freshman Emily Lebowitz (Coventry, Conn.) tallied 42 assists and junior libero Jill Hurd (Sunapee, N.H.) led the team with 27 digs.

Meanwhile Johnson & Wales faced Salve Regina University with the winner advancing to face RWU in the Championship match. The Wildcats earned the 3-0 win, including a tight third set needing extra points.

RWU began the final match slowly and J & W rolled to a 25-12 win, but the resilient Hawks recovered to cruise to a 25-18 win. Both the third and fourth sets were neck-and-neck throughout with the Wildcats winning game three, 25-22, and the Hawks winning game four by the same score. In an exciting fifth-and-deciding set, RWU needed a time-out after surrendering the first four points of the game and later found themselves down, 10-5. Strong defense helped RWU claw back to tie the score and eventually go ahead to earn the 15-12 victory.

Freshman Kelsey Twarog (Barkhamsted, Conn.) led RWU with 17 kills, most assisted by Lebowitz who totaled 45 in the match, one shy of her career record. Hurd again led RWU in digs with 24 and sophomore Marilu Gonzalez-Yanez (Los Angeles, Calif.) notched 16.

Meanwhile Rhode Island College defeated Salve Regina 15-6 in the fifth set to take third place in the tournament.

RWU returns to conference play Wednesday, hosting the University of New England in a 7 p.m. match. RWU defeated UNE, 3-1, in an earlier non-conference meeting this season.