Posted: Sep 10, 2019
BOSTON – In a battle between Boston Commons neighbors, Suffolk volleyball landed on the wrong side of a straight set decision as Emerson prevailed over the Rams Tuesday night at the Larry E. and Michael S. Smith court. The non-conference setback came by set scores 25-13, 25-21 and 25-23.
THE BASCICS
SCORE: Suffolk 0 | Emerson 3
RECORDS: Suffolk (3-3) | Emerson (4-2)
SET ONE RECAP (25-13, EMERSON)
- Emerson posted the first four points to grab a 9-5 advantage, which forced Scott Blanchard to use his first timeout of the set.
- The break did not stymie the Lions, who leaped ahead 17-8 and Blanchard called the blue-and-gold over once again to talk things over.
- This time, the huddle helped, and Suffolk made a bit of a run to pull within seven, 19-12, on an ace by Hannah Fabiano.
- Emerson did not let the Rams pull any closer, however, and the visitors took the first set, 25-13.
SET TWO RECAP (25-21, EMERSON)
- Down 4-0, the Rams rallied behind a Kenzley Bell ace followed by a Fabiano kill to trim the distance to one, 5-4.
- The Lions went on another scoring frenzy and Suffolk found itself in a four-point hole for the second time in the set, 8-4.
- An Emerson attack error coupled with a kill from Sarah Mullahy trimmed the margin back to two, 10-8.
- Slowly the Lions built more ground in their favor and Suffolk found itself trailing 14-8.
- Out of a Suffolk timeout, the hosts made things interesting on a 7-1 stretch capped off by a Stephanie Rheaume kill to level the playing field at 15-all.
- The game of runs continued and in Emerson's favor as it rattled off seven straight points to gain a hefty 22-15 advantage.
- Suffolk looked to stay alive and did with a late rally, outscoring the Lions, 5-1, to come within three, 23-20.
- The Lions composure paid off and they sandwiched points around a kill from Mullahy to take the stanza, 25-21.
SET THREE RECAP (25-23, EMERSON)
- Suffolk scored the first point for the first time on the evening.
- Things quickly turned in Emerson's favor, 7-2.
- Point-by-point the Rams fought back and did just that. Thanks to a 7-2 run, the blue-and-gold knotted the set at 9-9.
- A heated battle continued as the score locked up four times and the lead swapped twice.
- With Suffolk's sweeping fate looming and Emerson ahead 20-15, the Rams continued to claw back.
- Three points in a row helped Suffolk's cause to slice the deficit back to two, 20-18.
- From there see-saw action ensued before another Rams' 3-0 run made it a one-point set, 23-22.
- Similar to how the second set ended, Emerson traded points with the blue-and-gold to take the set, 25-23, and the match, 3-0.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- A well-balanced attack was led byFabiano's eight-kill effort with Mullahy and Rheaume pitching in five and four, respectively.
- Harmony Johnson, the reigning GNAC Rookie of the Week, handed out 18 assists to go with five digs and one kill.
- Kenzley Bell anchored the defense with 15 digs and served three aces.
NOTEWORTHY
- Suffolk and Emerson played in a three-set match for the 12th consecutive contest.
POST-MATCH PIC
COMING UP
Suffolk takes one day off before returning the hardwood in the basement of the Ridgeway Building when it hosts Lelsey in a 7 p.m. tangle Thursday, Sept. 12.