BOSTON – The Suffolk volleyball team opens GNAC action Saturday afternoon with its first tri-match of the 2015 season at Saint Joseph's College. The Rams will first take on Norwich at 2 p.m., before facing the hosts' Monks at 4 p.m. at the Harold Alfond Center. 

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LAST TIME OUT
In its home opener, the Suffolk volleyball team suffered its second setback in Great Northeast Athletic Conference play Thursday night, falling to Anna Maria in straight sets at Regan Gymnasium. The defeat came by set scores of 26-24, 25-16 and 25-21.

Talia Lombardo paced Suffolk for the third time in 2015, as the freshman tallied nine kills, seven digs and one ace. Chidera Nwankwo added eight kills, while Bridget Allison contributed on both ends of the net with seven kills and five digs. Emma Feeney was the Rams' leader defensively with 11 digs and Liz Kerek played the primary setter with 22 assists.

MORE READING: Volleyball Loses to Anna Maria in Straight Sets

Bridget Allison's 1.95 kps leads the way while Talia Lombardo (1.73 kps), Chidera Nwankwo (1.55 kps) and Jane Buckley (1.18 kps) each to the Rams 8.05 kps. Liz Kerek's 4.90 aps land seventh among GNAC setters.

Suffolk receives the fifth-best dig per set average in GNAC action in Emma Feeney (3.59) and Lombardo (3.09). Nwankwo and Madison Martin add to the Rams' defense with 0.45 bps and 0.39 bps.

SERVING UP ACES
Suffolk scored 19 aces in a straight set victory over Massachusetts Maritime, marking the most aces for a Rams' squad since 2011. Freshman Talia Lombardo tallied eight aces in the victory, the most for a Ram since Melissa Griffin '12 served that number in a 3-1 victory over Eastern Nazarene September 22, 2011.

In GNAC action, Suffolk has served 21 aces to lead the league in service aces in GNAC competition.

SWEEPS
Six of Suffolk's seven matches this season have come in the form of 3-0 sets. Last season, the Rams had 25 matches decided in cleansheats, owning six of those in victories.

BIT 'BOUT THE BLUE JAYS
St. Joseph downed Mitchell, 3-1, Wednesday night to level its ledger at 3-3 overall, however, the Blue Jays dropped their GNAC opener to Simmons, 3-0, to hold a 0-1 conference mark. Tiffany Mapusaga has led the Blue Jays' offense with a team-best 2.57 kps with Sarah Lipinski's 2.24 kps not far behind. Mapusaga also leads St. Joseph's defensively with 3.14 dps and Lipinski is second on the squad with 2.81 dps. Myranda Williams has dished out 7.39 aps to aid the Blue Jays' 9.14 kps effort.

CATCH UP ON THE CANNONEERS
Pratt snapped a six-match skid on Thursday when it swept Purchase State. The Cannoneers', which are 1-6, seven matches these seasons have all been decided in straight sets. Hannah Calderwood has packed the Cannoneers' attack with 2.10 kps and contributes a team-best 2.38 dps. Charlotte Burch has chipped in 1.73 kps and 2.09 dps. Alli Houghton and Abby Nagy have split time at setter handing out 4.33 aps and 2.22 aps, respectively.

LOOKING AHEAD
Suffolk is back inside the friendly confines of Regan Gymnasium Tuesday, Sept. 22 as the Rams entertain UMass Dartmouth at 7 p.m.