NO. 24 ROGER WILLIAMS NOTCHES 3-0 WIN OVER SAINTS

BRISTOL, R.I. – The 24^th-ranked Roger Williams University Women's Volleyball team rolled to a 3-0 (25-14, 25-10, 25-15) win over Emmanuel College on Thursday evening. The non-conference win boosted the nationally-ranked Hawks to 24-1 on the season, while the loss dropped the visiting Saints to 16-10 overall.

The Hawks began the match with a kill by Kristen Boyer (Ephrata, Pa.) to set the tone. The Saints eventually grabbed a 3-2 lead on a Hawk swinging error, but RWU rolled off six of the next seven points for an 8-4 lead. Emmanuel managed to tie the set back up at eight apiece on a kill by Brittany Tutalo (Johnston, R.I.). Roger Williams responded with a 12-2 run that essentially put the set out of Emmanuel's reach. Elizabeth Flaherty (Sloatsburg, N.Y.) and Brittany McMUllen (Lancaster, Pa.) teamed up for a block to give RWU a 25-14 win.

Emmanuel jumped out to an early 3-1 lead, capped off by a Kaitlyn Atkinson (Brookline, N.H.). RWU came back with six straight points for a 6-3 advantage. After a Hawk service error, RWU utilized a 14-4 run to take a commanding 15-8 lead, with a block assist by Boyer and Krystie Luczynski (Kensington, Conn.) leading to a Saint timeout. The Hawks clinched the final point on a mishit by Emmanuel, giving RWU the second set 25-10.

The third set was neck-and-neck for the early part of the game. Both teams traded lead changes twice with four ties over the first ten points. RWU's Nicole Weber (Poulsbo, Wash.) broke a 5-5 tie with a service ace that led to 9-4 run that helped give the Hawks a bit of breathing room. From that point, Roger Williams was able to keep Emmanuel at bay, maintaining at least a six-point lead. Sydni Ulibarri (Apple Valley, Calif.) notched the match-clinching kill to end the game 25-15.

Luczynski led the match with 13 kills, while setting a new season high in hitting percentage at .929 (13-0-14). Flaherty added nine kills, 13 digs, and three block assists. Weber set a game-high 19 assists, while McMullen added four kills and four block assists.

Atkinson finished with seven kills and a block assist for Emmanuel. Shannon Dudley (Morro Bay, Calif.) handed out 11 assists with ten digs. Sera Kantor (South Orange, N.J.) and Mellyn Costello (East Bridgewater, Mass.) each picked up double-figure digs with 10 apiece in the effort.

Roger Williams will take part in the Little Rhody Championship tomorrow against Johnson & Wales and Rhode Island College, while Emmanuel will play in a tri-match on Saturday against Norwich and Saint Joseph's (Maine) in Northfield, Vermont.

- Release courtesy of Roger Williams University Sports Information