
BOSTON – Suffolk volleyball put together a convincing sweep over Norwich Saturday morning to open its Lace Up For Cancer event. The straight set decision came via set scores 25-16, 25-14 and 25-17.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 3 | Norwich 0
RECORDS: Suffolk (10-5, 3-0 GNAC) | Norwich (7-4, 0-2 GNAC)
SET ONE RECAP (25-16, SUFFOLK)
- Suffolk jumped ahead to an early 7-1 edge.
- The Cadets charged back to chip the margin to four, 11-7.
- A 4-1 run by the Rams put the hosts in front 15-8, which forced Norwich to take its second timeout of the set.
- Thanks to its advantage from the get-go Suffolk maintained the margin down the stretch with an eight-point cushion twice the rest of the way to lock up the stanza.
SET TWO RECAP (25-14, SUFFOLK)
- Out of an 11-11 tie, Suffolk strung together nine consecutive points switch the score in its favor, 20-11.
- The Cadets called their second timeout of the set to stop the Rams' run and it worked. The visitors came out of the huddle on a 3-0 run of their own.
- The rally was no match for the blue-and-gold, however, as Suffolk scored the final five points, including a block solo from Harmony Johnson and an ace by Dakhensey Marcellus, to secure the set.
SET THREE RECAP (25-17, SUFFOLK)
- Suffolk trailed for the first time on the day as Norwich grabbed a 6-4 lead.
- The Rams rattled off six straight points to turn the tides in their favor, 10-6, which forced the Cadets to use a timeout.
- The huddle did not stymie the hosts as they sprouted out to a 13-9 cushion that blossomed to a 20-13 Suffolk score.
- The conference competitors traded runs the remainder of the way, but the Cadets never put a big enough stretch together to threaten the Rams advantage.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Hannah Fabiano's 15 kill effort was the strength to Suffolk's 36-kill effort that saw Kenzley Bell contribute eight kills as well.
- Johnson set up Suffolk's scoring with 27 handouts. The Rams' rookie was a main factor in the defense as well with 13 digs for a double-double performance to go along with four blocks.
- Kayla Barbera had an all-around outing with six digs, five aces and four kills.
- Sarah Mullahy added five kills on a .333 hitting percentage to the offense and a pair of blocks to the defense.
NOTEWORTHY
- Suffolk defeated Norwich for the seventh straight meeting to take an 8-6 edge in the all-time series.
- The Rams opened GNAC action 3-0 for the first time since beginning the 2005 league ledger 4-0.
- Suffolk garnered its 10th victory of the season, marking the fourth consecutive campaign the blue-and-gold has reached the double-digit win feat and 15th time overall the Rams have won 10 matches in a season.
- The blue-and-gold swept Norwich for the sixth time.
- Johnson recorded her second collegiate double-double.
- Johnson produced personal-bests in blocks (4), block solos (2) and block assists (2).
- Fabiano had a season-high 15 kills.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk wraps up its home tri-match this afternoon when it steps out of conference competition against Western New England. The anticipated first serve between the Rams and Golden Bears is set for 3 p.m.