BOSTON – The Suffolk volleyball team's first home tri-match of the season opens a four-match homestand as the Rams welcome Plymouth State and Salem State to Regan Gymnasium Saturday, Oct. 10. The Rams will first face the Panthers at 11 a.m., before capping the tri-match against the Vikings at 3 p.m. Plymouth and Salem will play each other in the middle match at 1 p.m. 

SOCIALIZE
Stay up-to-date with all the latest news and notes on Suffolk Athletics by connecting with the Rams on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Be sure to use the hashtag #RamNation for an insider's look at Suffolk's teams and student-athletes.

LAST TIME OUT
Talia Lombardo and Chidera Nwankwo registered six kills and four kills, respectively, but the Suffolk women's volleyball team fell to the two-time defending GNAC Champions Rivier, 3-0, Wednesday night at Muldoon Gymnasium.

Jane Buckley scored three kills for Suffolk, with Liz Kerek tallying eight assists. Defensively, Lombardo led the Rams with nine digs, while Bridget Alliosn, Heidy Barreiro and Caitlyn Mockler each had three.   

MORE READING: Volleyball Swept at Rivier

RUN DOWN ON THE RAMS
Suffolk could not find its way out of its four-match hole during mid-week action as it was swept at Rivier to drop to 4-13 overall and 1-5 in the GNAC.

Bridget Allison (1.78 kps) contributes the team-best kills per set to the Rams offense as Chidera Nwankwo and Talia Lombardo also provide top numbers with 1.64 kps and 1.61 kps, respectively. Liz Kerek leads Suffolk to a .079 hitting percentage by dishing out 4.26 aps.

On the defensive side of the net, Suffolk receives dominate efforts from Lobardo (3.34 dps), Emma Feeney (3.22 dps) and Nwankwo (0.46 bps).

PROWL ON THE PANTHERS
Plymouth (13-5) had it three-match win-streak halted Tuesday night as UMass Boston defeated the Panthers, 3-1.

The Panthers receive 3.40 kps from Dani Tabor, who is hitting .341, with Claire Sporer (2.84 kps) also notching over 2.00 kills per set. Kirsten Perrotta (8.75 aps) and Meagan Bailey (6.23 aps) have split time as Plymouth's setter. Brenna Peruch leads the way defensively with 4.25 dps, while Brianna Wojtas (0.68 bps) and Mikki Taffe (0.63 bps) contributing to the effort at the net.

VIEW ON THE VIKINGS
Similar to Suffolk, Salem has dropped to four-straight, which pushed the Vikings back to 3-12 on the year.

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.

LOOKING AHEAD
Suffolk continues its four-match homestand with back-to-back contests next week. The Rams host Pine Manor Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m., before welcome Lesley Wednesday, Oct. 14. Both matches are slated for a 7 p.m. serve.