BRISTOL, R.I. – Suffolk volleyball put an exclamation mark on its season-opening date as the Rams defeated Western Connecticut State, 4-1, Saturday at the Campus Recreation Center on the campus of Roger Williams to cap off play at the RWU Invitational. The decision came via set scores 25-14, 25-15, 19-25 and 25-18. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 3 | WestConn 1
RECORDS: Suffolk (2-0) | WestConn (1-2)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Rams took a 2-0 lead in the match with convincing decisions int eh first two sets, 25-14 and 25-15.  

The Wolves battled back in the third as they took the set, which tied nine times and flipped the lead twice, 25-19. 

Suffolk leapt out to a 6-2 advantage that turned into a 14-8 lead. The Rams stretched the margin to seven, 21-14, before WestConn used a 4-2 run to trim the gap to five, 23-18. A kill by Jasmine James followed by an ace from McKenna Keowen locked up the set, 25-18, and victory for the blue-and-gold. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Keowen finished with an 11-kill, 16-dig double-double. The senior added four aces, one block and one assist. 
• Sami Shore recorded nine kills on a .500 connection rate, three digs, six blocks, one ace and one assist. 
• James and Grace Cervenka had seven kills apiece. James also pitch in three blocks, while Cervenka had two blocks and two digs to her credit as well. 
• Jayla Martinez and Aislinn Lanigan split time as Suffolk's setter with 23 assists and 16 assists, respectively. Lanigan logged five digs and one ace, while Martinez also pitch in one kill, two aces and four digs. 
• Morgan Kelsey produced 18 digs, one ace and three helpers.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk started the year 2-0 for the first-time since 2016. 
• Suffolk met WestConn for the second time in as many years and fourth time overall. 
• The Rams defeated WestConn for the first time in program history. 
• Suffolk is now 1-3 against the Wolves. 
• It is the first match between Suffolk and WestConn that went longer than three sets. 
• It is the third time overall, first since Oct. 2, 2009, that Suffolk and WestConn tangled on a neutral court. 
• The Rams are now 1-1 versus WestConn under Scott Blanchard's guidance. 
• Keowen had her first double-double of the season, 16th of her collegiate career. 
• Shore matched a career-high five block assists. 
• Emily Norgrove set a personal-best in digs (5) and tied a career-high in blocks (1) and block assists (1). 
• Chloe Clement matched a career-high in blocks (2) and block solos (1).  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk heads to Dean Wednesday, Sept. 4 for a 7:00 p.m. match.