BOSTON – Liz Kerek and Talia Lombardo have been selected co-captains of the 2017 Suffolk volleyball team, head coach Bonny Ducharme announced Tuesday Morning. Kerek and Lombardo will lead the Rams during Ducharme's third year at the helm of the Suffolk program. 

Kerek, a native of Holbrook, Massachusetts, enters her senior campaign after setting up the Rams' offense last season with 4.09 assists per set to go along with a defensive effort of 1.56 digs per set. Through three seasons on the court in blue-and-gold, the 5-foot-8 setter has registered 713 digs (2.71 aps) needing only 61 to crack Suffolk's all-time top five, while she is 287 shy of the 1,000 assist plateau, a feat only two Rams have achieved in the program's history. 

Joining Kerek in the captain's role is Lombardo, who hails from Windham, New Hampshire. The 5-foot-4 junior has played 52 matches in her two years as an outside hitter for the Rams. In 2016, she posted career highs in kills (136, 1.60 kps) and assists (152, 1.79 aps), both of which were good for third on the team. 

The Rams open their 2017 slate with a Tuesday, Sept. 5 tilt at Mass. Maritime. Suffolk and the Bucs will meet for the second straight season in the first match of the year. In 2016, the blue-and-gold took down Mass. Maritime in straight sets in Beacon Hill.