
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – For the second time in program history Suffolk volleyball defeated Johnson & Wales as the Rams swept the Wildcats Thursday night at the Wildcat Center. The 3-0 victory came by set scores 25-17, 25-22 and 25-22.
The win is Suffolk's second over JWU in program history, first since 1997 and first-ever sweep of the Wildcats by the Rams.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 3 | Johnson & Wales 0
RECORDS: Suffolk (15-4) | Johnson & Wales (7-9)
SET ONE RECAP (25-17, SUFFOLK)
- Suffolk's early 4-1 edge bloomed into a 12-6 cushion.
- JWU rallied around a 5-1 run to cut the Rams lead to two, 13-11.
- The blue-and-gold went on to outscore the host 7-3 to stretch the gap back to six, 20-14.
- The teams traded points down the stretch and Suffolk went on to claim the opening frame, 25-17.
SET TWO RECAP (25-22, SUFFOLK)
- Suffolk fell behind four, before it scored five in a row to grab the lead, 5-4.
- The score tied three times before the Rams snuck in front by three, 10-7.
- From there, the blue-and-gold's advantage grew to as large as seven, 20-13.
- The Wildcats attempted a comeback and made things interesting as they cut Suffolk's lead to two, 24-20.
- Emily Norgrove and Isabelle Huzar combined for a block to seal the set for the Rams.
SET THREE RECAP (25-22, SUFFOLK)
- Suffolk trailed from the get-go and remained in a five-point hole once JWU hit double digits in points, 10-5.
- The Rams started their climb back with a 5-1 run to slice the deficit to one, 11-10.
- The Wildcats rebuilt a four-point margin, 19-15, which forced Scott Blanchard to take a timeout.
- Down three, 21-18, Suffolk scored six unanswered to turn on set and match point in its favor. That rally featured two Chloe Clement kills and an ace by Jayla Martinez.
- Bailey Koopman broke up the Rams run before Norgrove knocked down her fifth kill of the night to secure the victory for the blue-and-gold.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- McKenna Keowen had a 13-kill, 12-dig double-double with two assists one ace and one block.
- Clement contributed nine kills, three digs and two aces.
- Norgrove finished with five kills, six digs, two blocks and one helper.
- Martinez set-up Suffolk's attack with 23 assists to go along with 10 digs, two aces, one kill and one block.
- Morgan Kelsey added 13 digs, three aces and two assists.
NOTEWORTHY
- Suffolk defeated Johnson & Wales for the second time in program history, first since 1997.
- The Rams are now 2-28 all-time against JWU.
- The Rams snapped a 27-match skid versus the Wildcats.
- Ten straight outings between Suffolk and JWU have been determined in straight sets.
- The Rams swept the Wildcats for the first time to move to 1-22 in 3-0 decisions against JWU.
- Both of Suffolk's victories over JWU have come in Providence, Rhode Island.
- The Rams are now 2-15 on the road against the Wildcats.
- Suffolk is now 1-4 against JUW in the Blanchard era.
- Keowen had her second double-double in as many matches, eighth of the season and 24th of her collegiate career.
- Norgrove notched a career-high in digs (6) and block assists (2).
- Martinez logged her fourth collegiate double-double, second of the season.
- Chloe Burns served the first ace of her collegiate career.
- Clement matched a personal-best two aces.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Rams take the weekend off to prep for their Wednesday, Oct. 9 Conference of New England match versus Western New England. Suffolk welcomes the Golden Bears to Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court for a 7:00 p.m. match.