Posted: Sep 13, 2024
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Suffolk volleyball saw its six-match win streak come to an end Friday afternoon as Union took down the Rams in straight sets in the opening outing of the Crosstown Challenge at the Viniar Athletic Center. The setback, the blue-and-gold's first of the 2024 campaign, came by set scores, 25-19, 25-10 and 25-22.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 0 | Union 3
RECORDS: Suffolk (6-1) | Union (5-2)
SET ONE (25-19, UNION)
- Suffolk fell behind by four early, 6-2, with that gap growing to as many as nine, 21-12.
- Kills by Emily Norgrove and McKenna Keowen helped the blue-and-gold trim the margin down to five, 22-17.
- With set point set up for the Garnet Chargers, Sami Shore supplied a solo block to keep the Rams alive in the opening frame.
- It wouldn't be enough as the host put the set away on its next chance.
SET TWO (25-10, UNION)
- Union poured in the first six points of the second stanza.
- Suffolk never found its grove as the Garnet Chargers built a hefty 17-5 distance that grew to a 23-9 cushion before a fire alarm cleared the gym.
- After the couple minute away from the hardwood, Jasmine James knocked down a kill in the hopes of sparking a Rams rally, but Union coupled back-to-back points to claim the set.
SET THREE (25-22, UNION)
- After a pair of tied scores and a few lead exchanges, Union sat in front 10-6.
- Suffolk used a 7-3 spurt to level the playing field at 13-all.
- Chloe Clement's fifth kill of the set pushed the Rams ahead, 14-13.
- The visitors clung to the advantage, 16-14, but the Garnet Chargers rallied around a 7-2 run that gave the host the upperhand once again, 20-18.
- A James kill was followed by a Shore block that evened things at 20-all.
- From there, Union outscored Suffolk 5-2 to claim the set and match.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- James led Suffolk's attack with six kills on a 400 connection rate. The graduate student added a pair of blocks.
- Grace Cervenka recorded five kills on a .444 attack percentage, one block and one dig.
- Clement had five kills, all in the third set, with two digs to her credit as well.
- Shore supplied four blocks and two kills.
- Jayla Martinez dished out 12 assists to go along with two digs.
- McKenna Kowen added 17 digs, two kills and one helper.
NOTEWORTHY
- Suffolk met Union for the third time.
- The Rams fell to the Garnet Chargers for the first time in program history to move to 3-1 in the all-time series.
- Every battle in the Suffolk, Union series has taken place under Scott Blanchard's guidance.
- It is the second time in the all-time series that a decision between Suffolk and Union was determined in straight sets, first since the last meeting, Oct. 1, 2022.
- At Union, Suffolk slipped to 1-1.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk looks to waste little time to bounce back as Skidmore is on the Rams' schedule in Upstate New York tonight at 6:00 p.m.
