BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Women's Volleyball team fell to Brandeis University 3-1 (25-18, 16-25, 25-11, 25-20) on Wednesday evening at the Paolino Recreation Center. The Hawks moved to 3-7, while the Judges improved to 4-4.
For the Hawks, Peyton Felix (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) led the offense with 12 kills, two service aces and three total blocks. Anna O'Toole (Wilbraham, Mass.) added seven kills on a .286 hitting percentage, while Angela West (Riverview, Fla.) recorded five kills on a .400 clip with two block assists. Ava Lombardo (Newtown, Conn.) distributed 24 assists, and Marianna Hernandez (Norwalk, Conn.) collected a match-high 16 digs.
For Brandeis, Madison Haft-Abromovitch led all players with 17 kills on a .469 hitting percentage while adding three service aces and three block assists. Kennedy Lilly finished with eight kills, two aces and three total blocks, while Katya Belyakova recorded seven kills on a .250 clip. Alexa Ho directed the Judges with 27 assists, two aces and eight digs.
Brandeis finished with a 44-33 advantage in kills and a 12-5 edge in service aces while hitting .176. Roger Williams held a 7-5 advantage in team blocks and totaled 49 digs.
RWU scored three of the opening four points in the first set and held a 5-2 advantage before Brandeis moved ahead with a 7-1 run. The Judges later used three consecutive aces from Haft-Abromovitch to extend their lead to 18-11 before closing out a 25-18 victory.
The Hawks answered in the second set. With RWU leading 9-6, Samantha Devino (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) served four consecutive points, including an ace, to stretch the advantage to seven. Felix later delivered back-to-back aces during another four-point run as Roger Williams pulled away for a 25-16 win. The Hawks hit .333 in the frame while limiting Brandeis to a .031 clip.
Brandeis broke open the third set with eight consecutive points, turning a 3-1 deficit into a 9-3 advantage. The Judges hit .242 and held RWU to a negative hitting percentage on their way to a 25-11 victory.
The Hawks battled back from a six-point deficit in the fourth set, pulling within one at 15-14. RWU again trimmed the margin to one at 19-18, but Brandeis answered with three straight points and secured the match with a 25-20 win.
Roger Williams returns to the Paolino Recreation Center on Saturday, Sept. 19, for a tri-match. The Hawks will face Coast Guard at 11 a.m. before taking on Worcester State at 3 p.m.
