BRISTOL, R.I. – Sophomore Grace Kenningham (Houston, Texas) recorded 11 kills to help the top-seeded Roger Williams University women's volleyball team defeat fourth-seeded Wentworth Institute of Technology in a Commonwealth Coast Conference Semifinal Thursday night.
With the win the Hawks improve to 20-6 and will host second-seeded Endicott on Saturday in the CCC title match. The Leopards, making their first-ever appearance in the CCC Semifinal round, close out their record-setting season with a 25-5 mark.
Wentworth scored the first three points of the match, which came on a block from sophomore Samantha Lassiter (Rogers, Ark.), a service ace from classmate Katie Clouse (Hudson Falls, N.Y.), and a Roger Williams setting error. The Hawks responded with three straight points to tie the set early, however, the Leopards rolled off the next five points and took an 8-3 lead after sophomore Claire Quick (Mission Viejo, Calif.) served an ace. Wentworth increased its lead to 13-6 on a kill from sophomore Leah Rogoz (Woodridge, Ill.) before Roger Williams went on a 14-6 run and took a 20-19 lead. A ball handling error tied the score at 20-all, but a setting error started a string of five straight points which gave the hosts a 25-20 win.
The second set featured nine ties and four lead changes, which included Wentworth battling back from a 13-9 deficit to roll off six straight points and take a 15-14 lead on a kill from Rogoz. The Leopards extended their lead to 19-16 on another kill from Rogoz before Roger Williams used a 4-1 spurt to tie the set at 20-all. A kill from Lassiter gave Wentworth a 21-20 lad, however, the Hawks scored the next two points to regain the lead, 22-21. A service error tied the set at 22-all before Roger Williams used three straight kills to win, 25-22, and take a 2-0 lead.
Roger Williams looked like it would cruise early in the third set as the Hawks jumped out to an 11-4 lead. Scoring the next five points, which included a pair of block assists from Lassiter and senior Caroline Shea (Abington, Mass.), Wentworth pulled within a pair at 11-9. Roger Williams ended the run with a pair of kills and led, 13-9. A 4-2 spurt brought the Black & Gold back within two at 15-13, however, that would be as close as Wentworth would get as the hosts closed out the match on a 10-4 run and prevailed, 25-17.
Rogoz recorded a double-double for the Leopards with 10 kills and 12 digs to go along with a pair of blocks. Quick had eight kills and 12 digs while also serving three aces while Lassiter hit .455 (6-1-11) to go along with recording five blocks. Sophomore Maddy Tomastik (Portland, Ore.) had 13 assists and Clouse added 11 helpers. Sophomore Lexie Cambray (Bedford, N.H.) finished with 13 digs.
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