BOSTON, Mass. – Led by junior Molly Quilty's (Duxbury, Mass.) nine kills and nine blocks, the Roger Williams University women's volleyball team locked up the number one seed for the upcoming Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament with a 3-0 win over Wentworth Institute of Technology in the regular-season final for both clubs on Saturday.
With the win the Hawks improve to 18-6 overall and 9-0 in CCC play while the Leopards fall to 24-4 (6-3).
Roger Williams scored the first five points of the first set, which included a pair of kills from junior Nicki Fallisi (Salem, N.H.). Wentworth crept back and pulled within a pair on three occasions, including when sophomore Claire Quick (Mission Viejo, Calif.) recorded a kill to make it 10-8. After the Hawks upped their lead to four, the Leopards pulled back to within two on a sophomore Leah Rogoz (Woodridge, Ill.) kill, however, Roger Williams took the first set 25-18. Falisi had seven kills in the set for the visitors while Rogoz, Quick, and sophomore Samantha Lassiter (Rogers, Ark.) had three each for Wentworth.
With the score tied at 5-all early in the second set, the leopards used a 4-1 spurt to take a 9-6 lead on a kill from Quick. Roger Williams came back to tie the score at 11-all on a kill from sophomore Maddie Neuberger (Remsenburg, N.Y.), a point which began a 6-2 lead and gave the Hawks a 17-13 lead. Wentworth clawed its way back, and, trailing 23-19, used a kill from senior Katelyn Carlson (Stratford, Conn.), a Hawks' error, and back-to-back kills from Rogoz to tie the score at 23-all. However, a kill from freshman Katie Nugent (Lynnfield, Mass.), and an ace by Neuberger gave Roger Williams a 2-0 lead with a 25-23 win. Sophomore Grace Kenningham (Houston, Texas) and Quilty had four kills apiece in the set and Quilty also added four blocks. Rogoz and Quick paced the Leopards with five and four kills, respectively.
The Hawks raced out to a 9-2 lead in the third set and never looked back. Wentworth threatened on a pair of occasions, including when junior Lillie Clark (Vista, Calif.) served an ace to make it 13-10, however, Roger Williams scored the next four points to extend its lead to 17-10. The Leopards made one last run, trimming the lead to 21-18 on a freshman Caroline Rupp (Sayville, N.Y.) kill before the visitors closed out the match with a 25-19 win.
Fallisi added eight kills and made just one error on 20 swings while also serving a pair of aces. Kenningham had seven kills, 17 digs, and three aces. Sophomore Julia Fields (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) had 32 assists and 16 digs in the win.
Rogoz had a double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs. Lassiter and Quick had nine kills apiece with Lassiter recording a pair of blocks and Quick with 14 digs. Sophomores Katie Clouse (Hudson Falls, N.Y.) and Maddy Tomastik (Portland, Ore.) had 18 and 11 assists, respectively
Both teams open the CCC Tournament on Tuesday night against opponents to be determined.
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