PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The RWU Volleyball team posted 3-0 wins over Rhode Island College and Johnson & Wales University Sunday to successfully defend its title as Rhode Island Division III Tournament Champions, while improving to 20-3 on the season.

JWU took second place at the tournament while Salve Regina defeated RIC, 3-2 (25-22, 25-18, 12-25, 21-25,15-5), in the consolation match. In the two preliminary matches, Johnson & Wales posted a 3-2 (25-13, 29-25, 16-25, 27-25, 15-5) victory against Salve Regina while Roger Williams had a 3-0 (25-9, 25-15, 25-13) win against Rhode Island College.

The Hawks held their opponents under 20 points in all six sets as they also defeated JWU 25-17, 25-19, 25-16. The first set of the championship match was marred with poor offense by both squads, as the Hawks' posted a .029 hitting average and JWU posted a, .026 average. RWU's strong serving however helped in the victory at sophomore Kelsey Twarog (Barkhamsted, Conn.) registered three of the team's five aces.

The second set was much improved for RWU as it recorded 14 kills on 31 swings before notching 15 kills in set three. Freshman Krystie Luczynski (Kensington, Conn.) led the way for RWU with nine kills on 20 swings. Twarog notched eight kills and Brittney Sullivan (Nashua, N.H.) and Rebekah Dion (Old Saybrook, Conn.) each tallied seven.

Senior Catherine Bravo (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) paced the Wildcats with nine kills and seven digs. She and freshman Ashley Rey (Miami, Fla.) each posted nine assists.

Roger Williams reached the championship match after Dion recorded 16 kills and four blocks against RIC. The team tallied 43 kills in the three sets with sophomore Emily Lebowitz (Coventry, Conn.) contributing 36 assists.

Sophomore Brenna Boyer (West Greenwich, R.I.) recorded seven kills and 10 digs in the setback for Rhode Island College.

RWU looks to extend its seven-match winning streak Wednesday and remain undefeated in The Commonwealth Coast Conference traveling to Western New England College for a 7 p.m. match.