
BOSTON – Suffolk volleyball took down the University of New England, 3-1, Wednesday night at Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court. The win, which came by set scores 25-12, 19-25, 25-20 and 25-22, marked the Rams' 20th of the season, which ties the program's single-season win record.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 3 | University of New England 1
RECORDS: Suffolk (20-4, 3-2 CNE) | University of New England (15-5, 2-3 CNE)
SET ONE RECAP (25-12, SUFFOLK)
- Suffolk fell in a 6-1 hole early that forced Scott Blanchard to use a timeout.
- The Rams rallied out of the break back and leveled the playing field at 7-all.
- From there, the blue-and-gold compiled a 7-1 run to grab a 12-7 lead. That spurt featured three aces from Morgan Kelsey and a pair of kills by McKenna Keowen.
- The host kept its foot on the gas pedal as it outscored the Nor'easters 6-2 to push its advantage to 18-9.
- Out of UNE timeout, Suffolk closed the set with a 7-3 stretch. Chloe Clement chipped in to two kills to the set-ending run that saw one kill apiece from Sami Shore and Emily Norgrove.
SET TWO RECAP (25-19, UNE)
- There were nine tied scores and a pair of lead exchanges to get the Rams and Nor'Easters to the midway point locked at 15-all.
- UNE snuck ahead and built a three-point, 19-16, edge that caused Blanchard to use his first timeout of the stanza.
- The blue-and-gold managed to pull back within one, 19-18, before the Nor'Easters stormed away with the set thanks to a 6-1 run.
SET THREE RECAP (25-20, SUFFOLK)
- It was Suffolk that broke up a 4-all tie and jumped ahead 7-3.
- That slight lead grew to three a handful of times with the last coming at 13-10.
- The Nor'Easters climbed back behind a 5-2 run to even things at 15-all.
- A Suffolk timeout helped the host get composure and gain a four-point edge, 21-17.
- UNE would not go down without a fight and attempted to battle back. Suffolk however kept the visitors at a three-point distance the rest of the way and sealed the stanza on a Keowen kill followed by an ace from the senior captain.
SET FOUR RECAP (25-20, SUFFOLK)
- The Rams trailed early on, 7-3.
- The blue-and-gold pulled back and managed to lock things at 9-all thanks to a 6-2 stretch that saw Keowen notch two more kills.
- The scored would go on to tie five more times with the last coming at 15-all.
- Suffolk managed to compile a 4-1 spurt to build a 20-16 edge.
- The Nor'Easters responded with four unanswered points to knot things at 20-all.
- The Rams answered with a 4-0 run of their own to regain a four-point margin, 24-20.
- UNE attempted to pull back into things with back-to-back points, but a timely Clement kill locked up the set for the host.
STATISICALLY SPEAKING
- Keowen had a 14-kill, 19-dig night with three digs, two aces and one assist.
- Shore was on the verge of double-digit kills as well with nine thanks to a .353 attack clip. The sophomore added three blocks.
- Clement contributed seven kills and two digs
- Jayla Martinez added 23 assists, three digs, one ace and one kill.
- Aislinn Lanigan logged 17 helpers and seven digs.
- Kelsey pitched in 14 digs, three aces, one assist and one kill.
NOTEWORTHY
- With its 20th victory of the year, Suffolk tied the program win mark, which was set in 2019 (20-12). It is the third-ever season in the Rams' history that they hit the 20-win mark and first since 2022.
- All 20 win seasons have come under Blanchard's guidance.
- It is the first time in the regular-season that the blue-and-gold reached the 20-win plateau.
- Suffolk defeated UNE for the first time since Oct. 25, 2022.
- The Rams leveled the all-time series with the Nor'Easters at 3-3.
- As the home team, Suffolk is 2-0 versus the Nor'Easters.
- Suffolk is 3-2 against UNE with Blanchard on the bench.
- The Rams and Nor'Easters went four sets for the first time in the all-time series.
- Grace Cervenka tied a personal-best three aces.
- Keowen put together her 11th double-double of the year and 27th of her collegiate campaign.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Rams wrap up their non-conference calendar Saturday, Oct. 26 at Mass. Maritime at 4:00 p.m.