BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. – The Suffolk women's volleyball team totaled 19 aces en route to a 3-0 sweep over Massachusetts Maritime Tuesday night at the Clean Harbors Athletics Center. The Rams took the match by set score of 25-9, 25-9 and 25-19. 

The win not only marks the first for Suffolk (1-1) this season, but also the first in the Bonny Ducharme era. The Rams' 19 aces were the most since serving 21 in a 3-0 victory over Johnson State September 7, 2012.

Freshman Talia Lombardo led the way with a career-high eight, while classmate Jane Buckley added a career-best five. Lombardo and first-year Bridget Allison paced the offense with eight kills each, while hitting .385 and .267, respectively. Senior Caitlyn Mockler dished out nine assists and split the setting duties with sophomore Liz Kerek, who finished with seven helpers. 

Lombardo also paced the Rams' defense with eight digs. The Bucaneers' -.136 hitting percentage was the lowest total for a Suffollk opponent since UMass Dartmouth hit -.011 last season against Suffolk. 

The Mass. Maritime (0-2) offense received two kills from Cassidy Nice, Emily Calnan and Charleen Klangos. 

The Buccaneers kept the score close early in the first set, before the first of two 7-0 runs, which featured back-to-back aces from Lombardo, gave the Rams the lead, 9-2. The second 7-0 spurt brought the score to 19-8 in favor of the visitors and Suffolk never looked back, outscoring Mass. Maritime 5-1 to take the frame, 25-9. Allison had five kills in the frame, while Lombardo contributed three kills, two aces and two digs. 

Suffolk never trailed in the second stanza, which featured nine of the visitors' 19 total aces, as it rolled to a 25-9 victory. Lombardo's two kills and two aces led the Rams, while Buckley's four aces and Kerek's two aces and one kill helped pace the offense. 

Things got more interesting in the final set. After back-to-back kills from Lombardo to open the frame, the Buccaneers rattled off three straight points to take their first lead of the day, 3-2. The Rams did not let the host's edge last for long as they jumped out to a 7-4 lead. Mass. Maritime would not go down without a fight as they chipped away at Suffolk's lead and leveled the set at 10-10, before going ahead, 15-12. The Rams rallied on a 7-0 stretch to regain the advantage, 19-15. The Buccaneers came as close as three, 22-19, but kills by Allison and Mockler combined with a bad set from Mass. Maritime sealed the victory for Suffolk. 

Suffolk will travel to Bridgewater State Thursday for a 6 p.m. match.