BOSTON – Trailing 2-0, the Suffolk volleyball team forced a fourth set, but could not complete the comeback as Simmons set-back the Rams, 3-1, Wednesday night at the Moore Gymnasium. The GNAC defeat came by set scores of 25-17, 25-7, 19-25 and 25-13. 

Bridget Allison led the attack for the Rams (4-10, 1-4 GNAC) as the freshman hit .385 and added seven digs and two blocks on the defensive side. Jane Buckley added four kills with Liz Kerek dishing out 11 assists. Talia Lombardo notched seven digs, four aces and three kills for Suffolk. 

Abby Hart's 15 kill effort lead Simmons (5-8, 2-1 GNAC) offensive with Andalyn Duke passing out 30 assists. 

The match started as a back-and-forth affairs early in the first set with neither team taking a definitive lead. Simmons made a surge behind a 7-2 run to give the Sharks a 16-11 lead. Another 7-2 stretch by the hosts set up match point 24-16, before Simmons put the set away on a kill by Hart. 

The Sharks ran away with the second set, 25-7 to take a 2-0 lead in the match. 

With their backs against the wall, the Rams turned on the engines in the third frame. Recording the first two points, Suffolk and Simmons would tie 10 times and change the lead twice, before the Rams went ahead 15-13. The two-point cushion was not enough, however, as the Sharks answered with five straight points to go out in front, 18-15. Suffolk rattled off four straight highlighted by two aces by Lombardo to regain the lead, 19-18, as Simmons called for a timeout. Out of the break, the Rams tallied four consecutive scores  with another ace from Lombardo, before taking the set, 25-19, to force a fourth. 

Suffolk jumped out to a 7-4 edge in the final frame. The Rams did not stay out in front for long, however, as the Sharks rattled off seven straight pints to take a 10-8 lead that blossomed to a 13-10 advantage. From there, Suffolk would not score again as the hosts took the set and the match, 25-13. 

The Rams will be back in action this weekend as it travels across the Boston Common to Emerson for a tri-match with the Lions and Curry.