Volleyball grabs eighth straight win

Box Score NEWPORT, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Women's Volleyball team rolled to its eighth straight victory Friday evening, defeating Salve Regina University 3-0 in Commonwealth Coast Conference action.

Seahawk senior volleyball outside hitter Jennifer Duggan (Merrimack, N.H.) surpassed the 1,000-career dig milestone in the third set. It was the first Commonwealth Coast Conference match for the Seahawks, who drew a capacity crowd of 611 into the Rodgers Recreation Center.

The Seahawks and rival Hawks played a back and forth first set where the visitors took the lead on a 8-0 run to make it 14-8. Salve Regina drew within two at 20-18 before a small 4-0 gave Roger Williams set point. The Seahawks responded with a 3-0 run to try and close the gap but the Hawks were able to get the final kill necessary to take the set 25-21.

Roger Williams broke open the second set with another large run. This time a 7-0 run, including a 6-0 run with Maria Batas (Merrick, N.Y.) serving, gave the visitors a 21-9 edge. The Hawks eventually won the set 25-13.

In the late stages of the third set with Salve Regina trailing 19-12 a long rally ensued in which Duggan reached the 1,000-dig mark on her career. The Seahawks lost the point, but Duggan still received a standing ovation from the crowd when the announcement came of her career achievement.

Salve Regina would wind up losing the third set 25-13, giving the Hawks a 3-0 sweep over their cross-bridge rival.

On the night Salve was led in kills by Duggan, who recorded nine to go along with 12 digs and a service ace. Taylor Violet (Tiverton, R.I.) led the Seahawks in assists with 26, while tallying 10 digs and a kill. And senior libero Dianna Tauro (Melrose, Mass.) led the team in digs with 19.

For Roger Williams, Andrea Gorman (Wilbraham, Mass.) led her squad with 8 kills. Josalyn Benson (Phoenix, Ariz.) totaled 20 assists while freshman libero Maria Batas led the team with 13 digs.

The loss drops the Seahawks to 6-7 on the season and 0-1 in conference play. Salve Regina will next play on Saturday September 27 on the road against Wentworth at 1 p.m.

- Release courtesy of the Salve Regina University Sports Information Department

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