BOSTON – Suffolk volleyball will begin its quest for its first-ever conference crown as the Rams have earned the seventh seed for the upcoming 2017 GNAC Women's Volleyball Tournament, the league offence announced.
The Rams finished the regular season 13-15 overall and 6-6 against conference competition to clinch the seventh seed. The 13 wins are the most by the blue-and-gold since recording 16 victories in 2013 (16-14) and it marks just the fourth time since 1996 the Rams have collected 13 or more wins in a season. Suffolk's six conference triumphs, meanwhile, are the most for the Rams since winning eight league matches in 2005. The Rams make their second straight trip to the conference tournament in as many seasons, marking the first back-to-back appearance in the league's tournament field since the 2005-06 seasons.
Suffolk's season had multiple milestones, including a historic first-ever win and sweep of Emmanuel Sept. 27, which was a part of a three-match win streak. Junior Talia Lombardo served 14 aces in a 3-1 victory over Newbury Sept. 16, to match a program and league record, while senior Liz Kerek became the second Ram in the program's history to eclipse the 1,000-assist feat. Currently she sits in second-place all-time with 1,235 handouts.
Suffolk's 11th conference tournament trip sends the Rams to its Boston neighbor and the field's second seed Simmons on Tuesday, Oct. 31. The Sharks have been on a roll as of late, rattling off 10 straight victories to be unbeaten in the month of October and seal up the second set with a 19-9 overall record and an 11-1 league ledger.
The Tuesday tilt will serve as a rematch of the regular season showdown in which the Sharks defeated the Rams, 3-1, at the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), 3-1, Saturday, Oct. 28.
The Rams will make their fourth trip as the seventh seed with the blue-and-gold and Sharks squaring off in the conference tournament for just the second time and first time since 1999 when the third-seed, Simmons, defeated, Suffolk, 3-2. Overall, Suffolk has yet to advance to the semifinals as it looks for its first postseason victory.
First serve on Halloween Night is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Sharks' Moore Gymnasium. The winner of the quarterfinals contest will take on the victor of #3 Rivier versus #6 Saint Joseph's (Maine) Thursday, Nov. 2.
2017 GNAC WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
Quarterfinals – Tuesday, Oct. 31
Game 1: #8 Mount Ida at #1 Johnson & Wales, - 7:30 PM
Game 2: #5 Regis at #4 Lasell – 6:30 PM
Game 3: #6 Saint Joseph's (Maine) at #3 Rivier – 7:00 PM
Game 4: #7 Suffolk at #2 Simmons – 7:00 PM
Semifinals – Thursday, Nov. 2
Game 5: Game 2 Winner vs. Game 1 Winner
Game 6: Game 4 Winner vs. Game 3 Winner
Championship – Saturday, Nov. 4
Game 7: Game 6 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner