Volleyball Hosts Eastern Nazarene Thursday

THURSDAY, SEPT. 13 // 7:00 PM  REGAN GYMNASIUM BOSTON, MASS.
LIVE STATS SERIES RECORD // SUFFOLK LEADS, 7-3 (SINCE 2003) LAST MEETING // SEPT. 12, 2017, W, 3-2 LAST SUFFOLK WIN // SAME STREAK // W3 EYES ON THE MATCH

BOSTON – Coming off the momentum of a historic day at the service in its first win of the season, the Suffolk volleyball team turns its attention to Eastern Nazarene who is set to stop by Regn Gymnasium Thursday, Sept. 13 for a 7 p.m. tilt.

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LAST TIME OUT
Suffolk volleyball rewrote the record books Tuesday night as the Rams cruised past Pine Manor in straight sets in their home opener inside Regan Gymnasium. Suffolk secured its first victory of the season with set scores of 25-7, 25-9 and 25-9.

MORE READING:  Volleyball Rewrites Record Books in Sweep of Pine Manor

RAMS RUNDOWN
Suffolk picked up its first win of 2018 Tuesday night to move to 1-3 on the season. 

The Rams attack picked up the pace in its first home match of the season with the blue-and-gold now registering 6.75 kps led by 2.44 kps from Hannah Fabiano. Suffolk's biggest offensive threat is at the serve with the team averaging 3.25 aces per set paced by Ashley Fahey (0.83), Kayla Barbera (0.73) and Talia Lombardo (0.58). Barbera adds 1.82 kps as well, while Lombardo sets up the offense with a team-best 5.08 assists per set.

Suffolk's 8.25 dps defense is anchored by sophomore Dakhensey Marcellus' 2.83 dps with Bridget Allison and Emma Feeney contributing 1.42 dps and 1.11 dps, respectively.

LIONS LOOK
Eastern Nazarene heads into Thursday night on a four-match win streak that put the Lions 4-2 on the season. In that stretch, Eastern Nazarene met and defeated Suffolk's GNAC counterparts Emmanuel (3-1) and Regis (3-0). 

Courtney McCarthy and Ruth Aguilar are the Lions' main offensive ingredients. McCarthy's 3.73 kps leads the way and goes along with a team-high 3.27 dps on the defensive end. Aguilar, meanwhile, provides 3.00 kps, 0.86 aces per set and 3.05 assists per set.

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Since 2003 Suffolk leads the series with Eastern Nazarene 7-3.
• The Rams have won the last three meetings with the Lions.
• Three meetings have been decided in straight sets, all of which Suffolk won.
• Four meetings were 3-1 decisions with the Rams and Lions splitting such contests.
• Suffolk is 2-1 against Eastern Nazarene when the match goes five sets including last season's 3-2 thriller Sept. 12.

EYES ON THE MATCH

ACE IS GREAT
Suffolk had 10 players combine for 26 aces in its home-opening sweep of Pine Manor. That number is good for a Rams' record, upstaging the previous mark of 24 set in a 3-1 win over Newbury Sept. 16, 2017. Kayla Barbera and Ashley Fahey anchored Suffolk's serve with career-high performances. Barbera recorded eight aces, while Fahey notched five.

ON DECK
Suffolk shifts gears and readies for GNAC play as it is set for its first conference tri-match of the season at Lasell Saturday, Sept. 15. The Rams will first take on Albertus Magnus at 1 p.m., before facing the Lasers at 3 p.m.