The Suffolk Rams Volleyball Team (11-17 overall, 4-6 GNAC) split in the Tri-Match they hosted on Saturday against Mount Ida College (18-6 overall, 6-3 GNAC) and Pine Manor College (6-14 overall, 1-7 GNAC).
In the first match against Mount Ida, the Rams lost to the Mustangs by a score of 1-3. Juniors Melissa Griffin (Byfield, MA) and Tanya Fortes (Pembroke, MA) led the offense with a total of 10 kills for the match along with Griffin's 4 aces. Senior Kelly Loder (Billerica, MA) also put up 6 kills against the Mustangs. Senior Julie Sullivan (Haverhill, MA) totaled 19 assists for the match.
The Rams started off the Tri-Match strong with a victory in the first set of 25-23. Griffin led the defense in the set with a total of 8 digs. Freshmen Hailey Atkinson (Branford, CT) (6), and Maggie Hillman (North Andover, MA) (5) also contributed to the set with digs. Additionally, Loder had 3 of her 10 total solo blocks of the match during this set.
The Mustangs then took over in the next three sets. Suffolk lost the second set by a close 25-27. Griffin put up 5 kills and 6 digs in the set, along with Hillman who dug out 5 balls.
The third and fourth sets were not promising for the Rams. They lost the third with a score of 16-25 even with 4 kills by Fortes, 5 digs made by Hillman and Griffin each, and 4 solo blocks by Loder. The fourth set came down to the wire with a loss of 23-25. Griffin and Fortes put up 3 kills, while Hillman and Freshman Jacqueline Dugas (Saratoga Springs, NY) contributed to the set with 7 and 4 digs.
The Rams defense was led by Hillman and Griffin who had 22 and 21 digs apiece, and also aided by Loder and Fortes who put up 10 and 6 blocks.
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However, the Rams kicked it into gear in their second match against Pine Manor winning the intense 5 sets by a score of 3-2.
The Rams started off rough losing the first set 21-25. Griffin and Hillman led the offense with 3 and 2 kills, while Dugas dug out 8 balls.
Pure focus happened in the second set when the Rams won by an incredible score of 25-8. Hillman had a total of 5 kills in the set while Griffin and Dugas each had 4 digs. However, it was Griffin who helped drive the win home with an unbelievable 11 straight serves for the Rams, 4 being aces.
Though coming off a strong second set win, the Rams lost the third set by a close 23-25. Atkinson (3), Griffin (2), Hillman (2), Sullivan (2) each put up kills throughout the set.
The fourth and fifth sets appeared like the second with the Rams winning the fourth by a score of 25-12, and the fifth 15-11. Hillman led the offense in these two sets with a combined 10 kills. Griffin, Hillman, and Dugas also put up 5 digs each throughout the two sets aiding in the Rams win of the match.
The Rams offense was led by Hillman and Griffin who had a total of 19 and 12 kills in the match. Sullivan had 35 assists while Griffin and Loder had 7 and 6 aces. Dugas and Hillman led Suffolk's defense with 19 and 13 digs in the match, along with Loder who had 4 blocks.
The Rams will be back in action Tuesday night as they play a non-conference match against Gordon College at 7:00.