Union Invitational Ahead for Volleyball this Weekend

SUFFOLK vs. SKIDMORE
Date Time Venue Video Stats Series	Friday, Sept. 10 5:00 PM Viniar Athletic Center Schenectady, N.Y. BoxCast GoSuffolkRams.com First Meeting

SUFFOLK vs. SPRINGFIELD
Date Time Venue Video Stats Series Last Meeting   Last Suffolk Win Streak	Friday, Sept. 10 7:00 PM Viniar Athletic Center Schenectady, N.Y. BoxCast GoSuffolkRams.com Suffolk Trails, 5-0 Sept. 8, 2006, L, 3-0 Never L5

SUFFOLK at UNION
Date Time Venue Video Stats Series	Saturday, Sept. 11 10:00 PM Viniar Athletic Center Schenectady, N.Y. BoxCast GoSuffolkRams.com First Meeting

SUFFOLK vs. WILLIAMS
Date Time Venue Video Stats Series	Saturday, Sept. 11 2:00 PM Viniar Athletic Center Schenectady, N.Y. BoxCast GoSuffolkRams.com First Meeting

BOSTON – Suffolk volleyball ventures to upstate New York this weekend for the Union Invitational. While in the Empire State, the Rams will compete in four matches over two days with Skidmore and Springfield on tap Friday, Sept. 10 with outings against Union and Williams slated for Saturday, Sept. 11. 

SOCIAL SAYINGS
Ram Nation has a chance to keep up with all the latest news and notes on Suffolk Athletics, its student-athletes and teams by following the Rams on  Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Fans are encouraged to use the hashtag #RamNation a behind-the-scene look at Suffolk Athletics.

SUFFOLK ATHLETICS 2021-22 FAN POLICY
Suffolk University Athletics, following guidance from the University's health and safety protocols, Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC), Centers for Disease Control and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, plans to allow fans to attend home athletic contests during the 2021-22 academic and athletic year.

Fans, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, can attend games. They must be masked the entire time they are on campus, pursuant to institutional policy, and complete a health screening form at the security desk of each building upon arrival. This policy applies to home contests played on campus at the Ridgeway Building's Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court, as well as the Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Memorial Rink and the Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink.

For outdoor outings, specifically at East Boston Memorial Park, fans are asked to respect COVID safety protocols. At this time, masks will not be mandated for fans no matter vaccinated status at outdoor venues.

MORE READING: Suffolk Athletics Announces Fan Policy for 2021-22

LAST TIME OUT
Suffolk volleyball fell in its home opener to MIT, 3-0, Tuesday night at Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court. 

MORE READING: Volleyball Falls to MIT in Straight Sets

RAMS RUNDOWN
Suffolk slipped to 2-2 on the year after its 3-0 setback to MIT in Tuesday's home-opening tilt.  

Jasmine James and McKenna Keowen anchor the offense with 2.17 kps and 2.08 kps, respectively. Harmony Johnson has set-up Suffolk's 9.33 kps offense with 5.00 aps. Johnson and Keowen each produce at the service line with 0.83 aces per set apiece. Keowen is a top contributor defensively as well with 2.50 dps with Morgan Kelsey adding 2.45 dps. Alina Nowakowski's 0.67 bps leads the way. 

THOROUGHBREDS THOUGHTS
Skidmore carriers a 1-3 record into the tournament, which it opens against Suffolk, and looks to snap a two-match skid that features setbacks to Endicott (3-1) and Springfield (3-0).  

Chelsea Winegar's 2.21 kps leads the offense with Ella Kretten suppling 2.00 kps. Audrey Powell is the main setter for Skidmore with 4.85 aps. Frida Anguiano sits atop the team on the defensive side of the net with 3.85 dps with Grace Aronson supplying 1.08 bps. 

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk and Skidmore are set for their first-ever meeting Friday. 

EYES ON THE MATCH

PRIDE POINTS
Springfield has kept its record perfect, 4-0, through four matches this season and has lost just two sets in those outs.  

Camryn Bancroft and Natalie Billet average over 3.00 kps to pace a 12.50 kps attack. Bancroft's 3.25 kps is behind a .493 hitting clip, while Billet's 3.08 kps comes behind a .312 attack percentage. Sarah Labadorf has commanded the offense with 9.15 aps. Calire Dorr's 3.71 dps backs up the defensive unit that receives 2.54 dps from Billet and 1.50 bps by Bancroft. 

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk and Springfield will meet for the sixth time Friday night. 
• The Rams trail the all-time series against the Pride, 0-5. 
• All five matches in the series, which dates back to 2002, have been decided in straight sets. 
• Suffolk and Springfield have tangled on a neutral court twice, including the last meeting, Sept. 8, 2006. 
• The Rams and the Pride have played in Springfield, Massachusetts, three times, and have never played on the blue-and-gold's hardwood. 

EYES ON THE MATCH

GET TO KNOW THE DUTCHWOMEN
Union has five matches under its belt. The Dutchwomen sandwiched wins around a trio of setbacks to take a 2-3 ledger into the invitational.  

Sofia Barth's 3.00 kps leads the way on the offensive side of the net. Keara Page and Julia Webster pitch in 2.14 kps each. Haley Kresch sets up the offense with 6.50 with Morgan Napier (3.50 aps) and Brooke Fleming (3.00 aps) aiding the attack here-and-there.   

Jessica Siragusa and Fleming are the core defenders with 4.86 dps and 4.00 dps with Page and Julia Webster knocking down 0.71 bps each. 

INSIDE THE SERIES

• The Suffolk, Union series will begin this weekend.  

EYES ON THE MATCH
 

EVERYTHING 'BOUT THE EPHS
Williams will get its 2021 campaign going this weekend after a year away from competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Two years ago, the Ephs compiled a 14-11 record. The top returns from that squad are Lydia Kurtz (3.59 kps, 3.12 dps), Kiley Wallace (2.28 kps), Gracie Guidotti (3.31 aps), Morgan Persky (1.15 bps) and Allison Frison (2.42 dps).

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk will meet Williams for the first time.  

EYES ON THE MATCH
 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk returns to Beantown Tuesday, Sept. 14 for a match, however, the Rams will be road warriors with a cross city contest at UMass Boston. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m.