Box Score

BRISTOL, R.I. -- Reigning The Commonwealth Coast Conference champion Roger Williams University inched closer to defending its title, defeating the University of New England Nor'easters 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-22) in a semifinal-round match played Thursday evening.

The top-seeded Hawks (28-5) advance to Saturday's championship match to host No. 2 Endicott College, a 3-0 winner over Colby-Sawyer College this evening. The fourth-seeded Nor'easters (20-11) await word on a potential bid to the ECAC New England Championship. The ECAC field is scheduled to be announced Monday afternoon.

Sophomore Kelsey Twarog (Barkhamsted, Conn.) and first-year Krystie Luczynski (Kensington, Conn.) combined for 26 kills to pace the winners. Sophomore Emily Lebowitz (Coventry, Conn.) had 34 assists, while senior Jill Hurd (Sunapee, N.H.) spearheaded the defense with a match-high 22 digs.

Senior Kristen Edwards (Laconia, N.H.) won 12 points for UNE with 10 kills and two service aces. Sophomores Paige Curran (Chelmsford, Mass.) and Lindsey Cashell (Merrimack, N.H.) had six kills apiece while first-year Nicole Kalinowski (Tuscon, Ariz.) added five to go with nine digs.

First-year setter Maria Kuehl (Middleton, N.H.) was credited with 21 assists and a career-high 18 digs to register her third consecutive double-double and 12th of the season.

The Hawks will be playing for a conference championship for the third time in the last five seasons. In their lone regular-season meeting with Endicott, Roger Williams took a 3-1 decision back on Sept. 29.