WESTON, Mass. – The Roger Williams University Women's Volleyball team moves up to second place in The Commonwealth Coast Conference with a pair of 3-0 victories over Anna Maria College and Regis College Saturday afternoon. 

“It's always great to get conference wins,” Head Coach Bret Stothart said. “We had some different people step up and play really well, which was exciting for all of us.”

RWU began the day against Anna Maria in the opener. The Hawks opened with a seven point run over the AMCats until an attack by Jessica Warren (Stony Brook, N.Y.) fell short of the net, giving Anna Maria the point. Roger Williams continued its attack when a kill from Kristina Dolan (Glenmont, N.Y.) struck the floor deep within Anna Maria's territory giving the Hawks a seven-point advantage.

Anna Maria fought to stay within striking distance, but an attack by Leah Murphy (Wareham, Mass.) found its way into the blocking hands of Marybeth Torpey (Quincy, Mass.). Down 11, Anna Maria would call a timeout to refocus on taking a game one victory from Roger Williams.

The Hawks continued to place its attacks with precision as it handed the AMCats an early 25-6 game one defeat.

Anna Maria would keep the first five points close until the Hawks' Morgan Pasquali (Laconia, N.H.) sent a striking shot to the floor past two AMCat defenders.

Anne Blanchette (Byfield, Mass.) attempted to keep Anna Maria close, but her attempt at a kill ended with the ball into the net. An injury to what looked to be a lower leg injury to Anna Maria's Melissa Stedman (Mason, N.H.) called for a replay with Roger Williams up 18-6.

Torpey again repeated with a powerful kill into the AMCats interior, lifting the Hawks to a 24-7 lead. The Hawks' Jill Hurd (Sunapee, N.H.) sent her serve into the net, but the Roger Williams error would not help the AMCats.

Pasquali again appeared to strike the game-winning kill to the floor of the AMCats, lifting Roger Williams to a 25-8 game two victory.

Anna Maria's Sandy Acosta (Lawerence, Mass.) hoped to keep the AMCats alive with a return attack that scored. A missed opportunity by Nicole Robbie (Bellingham, Mass.) lifted the Hawks by one.

Sophomore Michaela Ross (Old Bridge, N.J.) delivered a powerful kill through the AMCats defense, giving the Hawks a three-point advantage to open a crucial third game for the AMCats.

Costa was able to keep Anna Maria within five with a tip over the net for the score. The AMCats Alicia Bonneau (Worcester, Mass.) made an attempt at digging a striker by Laura Scott (Chelmsford, Mass.), but was unable to fully get under the ball; which gave the Hawks a 22-15 advantage.

Down 24-15, the AMCats Robbie made a leaping save to return the ball over the net. Unfortunately a short serve by Marie Barral (Worcester, Mass.) of Anna Maria would give Roger Williams the point and match at 25-16.

Warren led the Hawks, with seven kills on nine attempts without an error, hitting an astonishing .778 for the match. Freshman Emily Lebowitz (Coventry, Conn.) handed out 28 assists, while Hurd and senior Michelle Beatrice (Medfield, Mass.) tallied three service aces and four digs each.

Against Regis, Kelsee Loche (Millis, Mass.) opened game one with five straight service aces for Roger Williams. Torpey and Ross were the most aggressive hitters in game one. With the assistance of Lebowitz strategically placing her assists, Roger Williams elevated to a 25-7 defeat of Regis College.

Brittney Sullivan (Nashua, N.H.) would open with consecutive aces to give the Hawks a 7-2 lead over Pride. Sullivan finished the day with six. Head coach Kelly Murphy took a timeout to regroup the Pride.

Rebekah Dion (Old Saybrook, Conn.) wanted to maintain the Hawks dominance, and demonstrated that with a striking kill to the Pride defense. Lebowitz would continue her assistance, placing Dolan for consecutive kills to the front and rear lines of the Regis College defense. She would serve the Hawks up two aces to win game two 25-8.

With a commanding 11-point lead, the Hawks continued an assault of peppered attacks to gaps in the Regis defense. Led by Pasquali, Warren would join in the strategic placement of her shots as well.

Ahead 23-8, Roger Williams just needed to maintain its poise to finish its day with two conference match wins. Dion would serve an ace to give the Hawks 24 points, but Melissa Frederique (Manchester, N.H.) would return an attack on the next serve to put Regis into double digits.

Pasquali would send a striking kill to the left corner of the Pride territory to end the match 25-10, and its day with two TCCC wins.

Dion earned seven kills on 13 attempts and no errors, with Warren and Pasquali contributing five kills each. Lebowitz mirrored her first match total with 28 assists, with Loche adding five digs and four service aces.

Roger Williams (10-8, 4-1 TCCC) takes on Lasell College Tuesday evening for a 7:00 p.m. match.

- Release courtesy of the Regis College Sports Information Department