Lesley Hangs On, Tops Suffolk 3-2

The Rams took Lesley to a nailbiting 5 sets but couldn't hang on for the win. Jacqueline Dugas (Freshman from Saratoga Springs, NY) and Kelly Loder (Senior from Billerica, MA) led the Rams on offense with 11 kills each, with help from setter, Julie Sullivan (Senior from Haverhill, MA) who had 44 assists throughout the night.

 
In the first set, Lesley was up 23-21 but Maggie Hillman (Freshman from North Andover, MA) stepped up to the service line and after three straight points, Suffolk was up 24-23. Suffolk ended up winning the set 26-24.  

 

Suffolk quickly fell behind in the second set, unable to catch up and lost the set 17-25. Lesley's Amanda McCracken (Sophomore from Eldersburg, MD) was a major contributor throughout the match with 23 kills and 6 blocks.

 

In the third set, both teams were neck in neck. Sullivan served up two aces late in the game, putting Suffolk ahead at 24-20. Suffolk took the game 25-20 and headed into the fourth set 2-1 in the match.

Suffolk took an early lead in the fourth set, but Lesley tied it up mid-game at 16-16. With Lesley and Suffolk's middles trading kills at the net, the teams were tied again at 22-22 and 24-24. After a serving and hitting error from Suffolk, Lesley won the set 27-25.

Suffolk, being led by Loder with 2 kills and a block, came out on fire in the fifth set. Suffolk was ahead 8-4 before Lesley, being led  by sophomore middle McCracken, went on a streak. With kills from Victoria Ashley (Freshman from Coventry, RI) and Meghan Chadwick (Senior from Chelmsford, MA) the game was tied up at 9-9. The Rams fought hard but weren't able to come out on top down the stretch and lost the set 14-16 and the match 2-3.

 

Kelly Loder led the team with 9 blocks, while Colbey Kennedy (Freshman from Old Lyne, CT), Maggie Hillman and Melissa Griffin (Junior from Byfield, MA) each had 6 digs in the match.