Volleyball Charge Past Norwich in Straight Sets

BOSTON – Suffolk volleyball put together a convincing sweep over Norwich Saturday morning to open its Lace Up For Cancer event. The straight set decision came via set scores 25-16, 25-14 and 25-17.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 3 | Norwich 0
RECORDS: Suffolk (10-5, 3-0 GNAC) | Norwich (7-4, 0-2 GNAC)  

SET ONE RECAP (25-16, SUFFOLK)

• Suffolk jumped ahead to an early 7-1 edge. 
• The Cadets charged back to chip the margin to four, 11-7. 
• A 4-1 run by the Rams put the hosts in front 15-8, which forced Norwich to take its second timeout of the set. 
• Thanks to its advantage from the get-go Suffolk maintained the margin down the stretch with an eight-point cushion twice the rest of the way to lock up the stanza.  

SET TWO RECAP (25-14, SUFFOLK)

• Out of an 11-11 tie, Suffolk strung together nine consecutive points switch the score in its favor, 20-11. 
• The Cadets called their second timeout of the set to stop the Rams' run and it worked. The visitors came out of the huddle on a 3-0 run of their own. 
• The rally was no match for the blue-and-gold, however, as Suffolk scored the final five points, including a block solo from Harmony Johnson and an ace by Dakhensey Marcellus, to secure the set.                                                                                                                                      

SET THREE RECAP (25-17, SUFFOLK)

• Suffolk trailed for the first time on the day as Norwich grabbed a 6-4 lead. 
• The Rams rattled off six straight points to turn the tides in their favor, 10-6, which forced the Cadets to use a timeout. 
• The huddle did not stymie the hosts as they sprouted out to a 13-9 cushion that blossomed to a 20-13 Suffolk score.  
• The conference competitors traded runs the remainder of the way, but the Cadets never put a big enough stretch together to threaten the Rams advantage.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Hannah Fabiano's 15 kill effort was the strength to Suffolk's 36-kill effort that saw Kenzley Bell contribute eight kills as well. 
• Johnson set up Suffolk's scoring with 27 handouts. The Rams' rookie was a main factor in the defense as well with 13 digs for a double-double performance to go along with four blocks. 
• Kayla Barbera had an all-around outing with six digs, five aces and four kills. 
• Sarah Mullahy added five kills on a .333 hitting percentage to the offense and a pair of blocks to the defense.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk defeated Norwich for the seventh straight meeting to take an 8-6 edge in the all-time series. 
• The Rams opened GNAC action 3-0 for the first time since beginning the 2005 league ledger 4-0. 
• Suffolk garnered its 10th victory of the season, marking the fourth consecutive campaign the blue-and-gold has reached the double-digit win feat and 15th time overall the Rams have won 10 matches in a season. 
• The blue-and-gold swept Norwich for the sixth time. 
• Johnson recorded her second collegiate double-double. 
• Johnson produced personal-bests in blocks (4), block solos (2) and block assists (2). 
• Fabiano had a season-high 15 kills.  

POST-GAME PIC
  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk wraps up its home tri-match this afternoon when it steps out of conference competition against Western New England. The anticipated first serve between the Rams and Golden Bears is set for 3 p.m.