Women’s Volleyball Splits GNAC Tri-Match

STANDISH, Maine – The Suffolk women's volleyball team split a pair of matches Saturday to open up Great Northeast Athletic Conference play. The Rams swept Norwich in their first match at the Harold Alfond Center, before falling to the hosts' Saint Joseph's College, 3-0.

Rachel Fancy and Madison Martin led the attack against the Cadets (1-4, 0-2 GNAC) with five kills. Fancy hit .308 and led Suffolk's (2-3, 1-1 GNAC) defensive effort with 11 digs, while Talia Lombardo added 10 digs. Liz Kerek provided 11 assists to the Rams' 25 kill offense output.

Fancy was the go to again on both sides of the net against the Monks (4-0, 1-0 GNAC) as the freshman totaled three kills and 18 digs. Emma Feeney pitched in 15 digs and Chidera Nwankwo matched Fancy's offensive contribution with three kills.

Suffolk led nearly the entire way in the first set against Norwich and registered set point, 25-13, on a bad set by the Cadets' Emily Oliver. Leading 18-10 in the second stanza, the Rams held off a late Norwich run, which allowed it to even the score with the Rams, 23-23, before Suffolk registered back-to-back points for a final 25-23. The Cadets kept pace with Suffolk throughout the final frame, but the Rams maintained composure and took the set, 25-21, for a 3-0 match triumph.

Suffolk could not carry the momentum into the nightcap as Saint Joseph's registered a three-set match victory, 25-18, 25-14 and 25-18.

Suffolk will be back in action Tuesday, Sept. 15, when it closes its six-match road swing at Wentworth at 7 p.m.