Multiple Rams Post Career Nights in Volleyball’s 3-1 Setback to Rivier

BOSTON – Kayla Barbera and Talia Lombardo each produced personal bests numbers for the Suffolk volleyball team Tuesday night, but it would not be enough as the Rams fell, 3-1, to GNAC foe Rivier inside Regan Gymnasium.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 1, Rivier 3
RECORDS: Suffolk (2-8, 1-2 GNAC) | Rivier (10-5, 5-0 GNAC) 

SET ONE RECAP (25-22, RIVIER)

• The scored tied 10 different times before Rivier rallied behind a 4-1 spurt to gain a 15-12 edge. 
• Back-to-back kills from Hannah Fabiano cut the deficit to one, 15-14. 
• Rivier rattled off three unanswered points before Scott Blanchard called the Rams over to talk things out.
• Following the break, Fabiano scored a kill and Bridget Allison followed suit with one of her own to spark a run by the hosts that locked the score at 20-all. 
• Suffolk took its second timeout of the stanza down 22-20, but this time it did not slow down the Raiders, who locked up the frame, 25-22.  

SET TWO RECAP (25-18, RIVIER)

• Rivier put Suffolk in a six-point hole to open the stanza and turned that advantage into a 9-1 cushion.
• Suffolk used a 5-1 run to pull within three, 11-8. 
• The Rams found themselves down seven, 18-11, before playing catch-up again. 
• Comeback they did, making it a three-point set, 20-17, thanks to a kill by Chidera Nwankwo. 
• Rivier showed composure down the stretch, outscoring the host's 5-1 to take the frame, 25-18.   

SET THREE RECAP (25-22, SUFFOLK)

• Suffolk got going early on and grabbed a 6-2 lead. 
• Rivier slowly chipped away at the Rams edge and trimmed the margin to one, 11-10. 
• The Rams rallied behind Nwankwo and Barbera who recorded one and two kills, respectively, to regain a 14-10 advantage for the blue-and-gold. 
• After the Raiders used a timeout, Suffolk went up 20-15 to force the visitors to take their second and final timeout of the set. 
• This time the break caused the Rams to slow down and a two-point frame followed at 22-20 in Suffolk's favor. 
• The Rams held off the Raiders the rest of the way to force the extra frame, 25-22.

SET FOUR RECAP (25-19, RIVIER)

• Suffolk trailed 12-7 and 18-12 at the midway point. 
• The Rams could not make up enough ground despite pulling within five, 22-17, as Rivier remained on cruise control to lock the frame and match, 25-19. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Barbera's night finished with 17 kills on a .244 connection rate with 12 digs, two assists and one block. 
• Barbera received attack help from classmate sophomore Fabiano and Nwankwo, who each chipped in 10. Nwankwo's 10 kills came thanks to a .318 attack percentage. 
• Talia Lombardo set up Suffolk's 50-attack offense with 39 assists to go along with five kills, four digs and one ace. 
• Allison contributed all over the hardwood with six kills, five digs, five blocks and three assists. 
• Dakhensey Marcellus anchored the defense with 26 digs.  

NOTEWORTHY

• The Rams and Raiders went four sets for just the third time in series history, which dates through 2003, and first time since 2012.
• Suffolk's 50 kills are the most 
• Barbera produced her second collegiate and season double-double behind a career-high 17 kills. 
• Lombardo's 39 assists are the most in the season's career and most for a Ram since Liz Kerek dished out 42 in a 3-1 win over Becker Oct. 10, 2017.
• Marcellus' 26 digs mark a season-best for the sophomore. 
• Nwanwko notched a season-high 10 digs.  

POST-MATCH PIC
 

ON DECK
Suffolk remains at home Saturday, Sept. 29 as the Rams welcome Colby Sawyer and Mass. Maritime to Regan Gymnasium for a tri-match. Suffolk gets the action going at 11 a.m. versus the Chargers before wrapping up the day at 3 p.m. against the Buccaneers.