BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University women's volleyball team took a straight-set victory over Western Connecticut State University in their season opener, 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-16) on Saturday afternoon at the RWU Invitational.
 
The Hawks hit .142 as a team, with 34 kills on 113 attempts. Kaylee Jackson led the way with eight kills, while Angela West added seven kills, with Brianna Picchietti tallying six. Emma Bosco led the way with three aces, and Ava Mattiucci and Jackson each had one.
 
West led the way defensively for the Hawks being a part of four blocks, with Lily Winsten being in on a pair. Bosco and Mattiucci led the way with 16 assists and 10 assists respectively, while Marianna Hernandez had double-digit digs with 12.
 
Western Connecticut State was led in kills by Julia Stoliker who had nine kills in the match, with Krysti McDonald, Helen Megson, and Stokliker each having an ace. Olivia Monteleone recorded 22 assists, with Stoliker also leading with 11 digs.
 
In the opening set, the Wolves jumped out to a 6-3 lead, but back-to-back points by the Hawks, cut the deficit to one after a kill by West. Western Connecticut State went on a five point run to take a 13-6 lead, but the Hawks responded with five straight points of their own, putting the Hawks down by two at 13-11.
 
The two squads traded points, until the Wolves put two more tallies of the board with the score 17-15, taking an 19-15 lead. The Hawks responded with five straight points to take their first lead of the season, with a 20-19 lead. After Western Connecticut State tied it at 20-20, the Hawks then scored three straight points, with the final coming off a kill by Picchietti. The Wolves would score one more in the set, but Roger Williams would take the set 25-21.
 
In the second frame, the Wolves again led 4-3, Roger Williams went on a run, scoring seven straight points, taking a commanding 10-4 lead. With the Hawks maintaining their six-point lead, the Wolves cut the lead down to three, but after trading a point each way, the Hawks rattled off three of their own to take a 21-15 lead. The Wolves again pulled within three, but two straight points by the Hawks secured the set.
 
In the third set, the Hawks took command early and went up 17-4. The Wolves wre able to pull within eight in the set but unable to take the lead. 
 
Roger Williams (1-0, 0-0 CNE) will now face New England College at 2:00 pm as they continue competition at the RWU Invitational Saturday.