Volleyball Heads to No. 2 JWU for Final Tri-Match of Season

SATURDAY, OCT. 27 // 12:00 PM  WILDCAT CENTER PROVIDENCE, R.I.
LIVE STATS // VIDEO SERIES RECORD // SUFFOLK TRAILS, 0-17 LAST MEETING // SEPT. 23, L, 3-0 LAST SUFFOLK WIN // NEVER STREAK // L17 EYES ON THE MATCH

SATURDAY, OCT. 27 // 2:00 PM  WILDCAT CENTER PROVIDENCE, R.I.
SERIES RECORD // SUFFOLK TRAILS, 3-8 LAST MEETING // OCT. 21, 2017, L, 3-0 LAST SUFFOLK WIN // SEPT. 27, 2014, W, 3-2 STREAK // L3 EYES ON THE MATCH

BOSTON – With playoff position on the line, Suffolk volleyball makes the trip to Providence, Rhode Island, Saturday, Oct. 27 for a tri-match at No. 2 Johnson & Wales featuring Saint Joseph's (Maine). The Rams will take on national powerhouse JWU to get the day going at 12 p.m., before capping off regular-season action at 2 p.m. versus the Monks.

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LAST TIME OUT
Talia Lombardo joined elite company Thursday night as she collected her 1000th career assist to anchor Suffolk volleyball to a sweep over Becker at Leicester Gymnasium. The victory, the Rams' last non-conference contest of the season, came by set scores 25-21, 25-18 and 25-22. 

MORE READING: Lombardo Hands Out 1000th Assist as Volleyball Sweeps Becker

RAMS RUNDOWN
Suffolk currently holds fourth-place in the conference standings with a 7-3 league ledger and an 11-14 overall mark. 

The Rams have seen four big threats offensively this season in Hannah Fabiano (2.24 kps), Kayla Barbera (2.20 kps), Chidera Nwankwo (2.05 kps) and Bridget Allison (1.76 kps). That quartet has been set up primarly by senior setter Talia Lombardo, who hands out 8.08 aps and leads the way at the service line with 0.69 aces per set.

Dakhensey Marcellus has taken the bulk of the receptions for the Rams with 4.44 dps. The sophomore receives help defensive from Barbera (2.55 dps), Emma Feeney (2.38 dps) and Allison (0.59bps) at the net.

WILDCAT WAYS
Johnson & Wales has had an impressive season. Since losing its first match the Wildcats have strung 24 victories together, dropping just six sets in that span to enter Saturday 24-1 overall and 10-0 in conference contests. JWU has swept all eight of its October opponents and has won its last 11 matches in straight sets. 

Kate Walker (3.21 kps) and Maria Coniglio (3.13 kps) each produce over 3.00 kps for JWU's conference-best 14.34 kps. Setter Brylee Frank is solely responsible for the Wildcats offensive success with the junior dishing out 11.04 aps. 

Defenisvely, Elyssa Nicolas' 4.79 dps paces the pack with Mikayla Arimura and Coniglio adding 2.93 dps and 2.87 dps, respectively. At the net Walker's 0.79 bps leads the way.

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk looks for its first win over JWU with the Wildcats owning all 17 meetings.
• The Wildcats have swept the Rams 14 times with one match going the distance and two being decided in four sets.

EYES ON THE MATCH

MONKS MENTIONABLES
St. Joseph's (Maine) is in a three-way tie for seventh in the league standings at 4-6 versus conference foes, while the Monks sit 9-16 overall. 

Kesley Bickford's 2.74 kps lead the way for SJC offensive with Sarah Quinn (1.87 kps) and Erin Olson (1.74 kps) also consistent contributors.  Sarah Dyer (4.40 aps) and Sophia Randall (3.74 aps) have split time as St. Joe's setter this season. 

Jennelle Thompson anchors the Monks defensive unit with 5.73 dps and receives help from Sarah Dyer's 2.81 dps and Olson's 0.72 bps.

INSIDE THE SERIES

• The Suffolk, St. Joseph's series dates back to 2007.
• The Rams trail the all-time meetings, 3-8.
• The Monks have won three in a row against the Rams including a straight set decision Oct. 21, 2017.
• St. Joe's owns all five sweeps in the series, while Suffolk is the victor of the lone five-set match, which came in 2014.
• In four-set matches versus SJC, Suffolk is 2-3.
• The Rams last win over St. Joe's came in five sets Sept. 27, 2014.

EYES ON THE MATCH

ON DECK
Suffolk awaits the official seeding of the 2018 GNAC Tournament with quarterfinal action set to begin Tuesday, Oct. 30.