NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Roger Williams University Women's Volleyball team suffered a pair of 0-3 setbacks to Tufts University and Coast Guard Academy Friday evening in the first night of the Coast Guard Invitational.
 
Hawk Highlights (Tufts)
Lara LoIacono (Lynbrook, N.Y.): 9 kills, 1 service ace, 3 digs
Katie Nugent (Lynnfield, Mass.): 8 kills, 1 block solo, 2 block assists
Julia Fields (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.): 14 assists, 6 digs,
Kate Porter (Killingworth, Conn.): 13 assists, 1 block assist, 2 digs
 
For The Opponents (Tufts)
Rachel Furash: 16 assists, 6 digs, 1 kill, 1 service ace
Cate Desler: 8 kills, 2 service aces, 3 digs
Brigid Bell: 9 kills, 4 digs
 
How It Happened
Tufts began the first set on a 5-2 run before RWU tied it up at six apiece. The set would go back and forth with both teams trading points. With the set tied at 21, the Jumbos closed the game on a 4-0 run to take the 25-21 win and a 1-0 lead.
 
The second set was more of the same, with both teams battling the entire way. Neither team led by more than three points throughout most of the set. However, Tufts pulled away at the end, scoring three straight points with the set tied to earn the 25-22 win.
 
RWU would fall behind early in the third set, with Tufts scoring four of the first five points and eventually going up 12-4. The Hawks made a late run, pulling within two (18-20). However, a 5-2 run for the Jumbos would give them the match.
 
Hawk Highlights (Coast Guard)
Katherine Pickard (St. Petersburg, Fla): 9 kills, 5 digs
Lara LoIacono (St. Petersburg, Fla.): 7 kills, 1 block solo
Julia Fields (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.): 12 assists, 5 digs
Lauren Burbidge (Cazenovia, N.Y.): 2 service aces, 5 digs
 
For The Opponents (Coast Guard)
Noelle Tursky: 16 assists, 7 digs, 9 kills, 1 service ace
Amanda Dake: 11 kills, 1 assist, 5 digs
Makenna Martin: 15 assists, 2 kills, 2 service aces, 3 digs
 
How It Happened
Lara LoIacono (Lynbrook N.Y.) began the match with a pair of kills to put the Hawks up 2-0. However the Bears came back with an 8-2 run to take a four-point lead. The Hawks would notch four straight points to tie things up at eight, but a 10-4 run put Coast Guard back up by six. Roger Williams would make one last push with 7-2 run to pull within one (19-20) but a 5-1 run for Coast Guard gave them the 25-20 win.
 
The second and third sets saw RWU fall behind early and unable to come back. Coast Guard opened the second set on a 7-2 run and the third set on a 7-0 run. RWU's offense stalled in the two sets, hitting only .076 combined in both games. Coast Guard would earn the win taking the third set 25-17 and the third 25-11.
 
What's Next
Roger Williams (0-5): Saturday, September 7 at Connecticut College @ 1:00pm
Tufts (2-0): Saturday, September 7 vs. DeSales at Coast Guard @ 1:00pm, at Coast Guard @ 3:00pm
Coast Guard (4-2): Saturday, September 7 vs. DeSales @ 11:00am Tufts @ 3:00pm