Volleyball Wraps Up Homestand with Roger Williams Thursday in CCC Debut

SUFFOLK vs. ROGER WILLIAMS - PROGRAM
Date Time Venue Video Stats Series Last Meeting   Last Suffolk Win Streak	Thursday, Sept. 23 7:00 PM Smith Court Boston, Mass. Suffolk Stretch GoSuffolkRams.com Trails, 0-16 Sept. 22, 2009, L, 3-0 Never L16

BOSTON – Suffolk women's volleyball caps off its three-match homestand Thursday, Sept. 23 in historic fashion as the Rams entertain Roger Williams in the programs first-ever Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) contest. The league match has a 7 p.m. start at the Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court. 

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 dropped a 3-0 non-conference contest to Eastern Nazarene Saturday afternoon at Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court. The setback came via set scores 25-21, 25-23 and 25-22. 

MORE READING: Volleyball Falls in Straight Sets to Eastern Nazarene

RAMS RUNDOWN
Suffolk dipped just below .500, 5-6, after falling to Eastern Nazarene in straight sets Saturday.  

The Rams are powered by underclassmen as McKenna Keowen (2.81 kps) and Jasmine James (2.16 kps) anchor the team's 9.62 kps attack that is set up by Harmony Johnson (5.17 aps) and Jayla Martinez (3.84 aps). Morgan Kelsey chips in 1.03 aces per set to the offense and leads the defense with 3.65 dps. Keowen chips in 2.76 dps to the defense as well with Alina Nowakowski providing 0.70 bps. 

HAVE TO KNOW 'BOUT THE HAWKS
Roger Williams has yet to find the win column in 2021, however, its 0-6 record is deceiving as there are a handful of regional power houses on the Hawks schedule like No. 21 Tufts.  

RWU's 10.5 kps attack sees 2.36 kps from Allie Welch and 2.09 kps by Kristen Dansereau. Kate Porter has set up the offense with 9.00 aps. Defensively, Jaime Gaffga paces the pack with 4.23 dps with Porter and Jasmine Babbitt providing 3.27 dps and 0.90 bps, respectively. 

INSIDE THE SERIES

• The Suffolk, Roger Williams series started in 1998. 
• The Rams have yet to take down the Hawks to trail the all-time series, 0-16. 
• Suffolk last met RWU, Sept. 22, 2009 in Boston. The Hawks swept the Rams in that outing. 
• The blue-and-gold will tangle with the Hawks in Boston for the seventh time Thursday. 
• Six matches have been played in Boston (0-6), five in Bristol, Rhode Island (0-5) and five at neutral sites (0-5). 
• Nine matches have been decided in straight sets, four in Boston, three with the Rams as the away team and two at neutral sites. 
• Five outings were four-set decisions. Two came away and at a neutral site, respectively, with one 3-1 contest in Beantown. 
• Just a pair of battles went the distance. One was played at RWU and the other was at a neutral site. 

EYES ON THE MATCH

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk heads to Endicott Saturday, Sept. 25 for a 1:00 p.m. CCC showdown.