BRISTOL, R.I. – Three Women's Volleyball team seniors, Jill Hurd (Sunapee, N.H.), Brittney Sullivan (Nashua, N.H.), and Rebekah Dion (Old Saybrook, Conn.), were honored for their outstanding careers Wednesday night before their final regular season home contest. The Hawks hosted the University of New England, defeating the visitors, 3-1.

The Hawks were fired up to start the match, jumping out to a 10-5 lead to force UNE into a timeout. RWU extended its lead to 20-8 before winning the set 25-13. RWU again jumped out to an early lead in the second set, leading 9-5 before UNE posted a 10-3 run to force RWU into a timeout down 15-12. UNE finished the set with a 10-4 run to take game two, 25-18.

A tight third set ensued with neither team leading by more than two points until RWU sophomore Kelsee Loche (Millis, Mass.) registered a service ace followed by a UNE attacking error to give the Hawks a 12-8 lead. The visitors rebounded with back-to-back points, but RWU slowly gained momentum, extending its lead to 21-17 on a kill by Dion. The Hawks finished the set 25-19 and maintained their momentum into the fourth set, taking a 6-0 lead behind the serving of sophomore Emily Lebowitz (Coventry, Conn.). UNE pulled to within three at 10-7 after a service ace by freshman Maria Kuehl (Middleton, N.H.), but the Nor'Easters would get no closer. RWU pulled away to 19-9 before finishing the match with a service ace by Sullivan for the 25-14 win.

Dion and freshman Krystie Luczynski (Kensington, Conn.) both tallied a team-high 11 kills in the match, hitting .348 and .476, respectively. Sophomore Paige Curran (Chelmsford, Mass.) led the Nor'Easters with nine kills on the night. Kuehl contributed 27 assists along with a team-high 12 digs, while also chipping in two kills and two service aces. Lebowitz also posted double-digit digs with 11 while recording 38 assists. Hurd led all players with 17 digs.

Junior Natasha Sopchak (Rhinebeck, N.Y.) had a strong night at the net for RWU, hitting seven kills with just one error on 14 swings. She also notched three blocks, tying Luczynski for the team high. Senior Kristen Edwards (Laconia, N.H.) was also strong for UNE, notching six kills and just two errors on 13 swings, along with one service ace.

RWU improves to 24-5 overall and remains perfect in The Commonwealth Coast Conference at 8-0. UNE falls to 17-10 and 4-4. Both teams return to action Saturday in the final day of the regular season. UNE travels to Western New England College along with Eastern Nazarene. RWU travels to Anna Maria College along with Gordon College.