Emerson Bests Volleyball in Three Sets

BOSTON – Suffolk volleyball fell on the wrong side of a 3-0 decision against Emerson. The match, which came by set decisions, 25-15, 25-16 and 25-23, opened a tri-match across the Boston Commons at Browne & Plofker Gymnasium Saturday morning.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 0 | Emerson 3
RECORDS: Suffolk (7-12) | Emerson (11-6) 

SET ONE RECAP (25-15, EMERSON)

• Suffolk found itself trailing 8-2 early. 
• A timeout looked to get something started, however, the Lions led 15-8 at the midway point. 
• That margin grew to double-digits, 21-11. 
• Each team managed to trade eight points the rest of the way and the early edge paid off for Emerson.  

SET TWO RECAP (25-16, EMERSON)

• Out of a 2-all playing field, Emerson scored four in a row to take a 6-2 cushion that it built into a 14-8 advantage, which forced a Scott Blanchard to call a timeout. 
• The Lions did not let up out of the huddle as they slowly gained a 19-11 lead. 
• Back-to-back kills from McKenna Keowen kept the Rams around, however, a 4-1 stretch by Emerson turned the score to 23-14 in the host's favor. 
• Suffolk used its second timeout of the set to calm down and it helped at first as Alina Nowakowski and Keowen teamed up for a block. 
• The action at the net was followed by an ace from Harmony Johnson, but an attack error by Keowen allowed Emerson to take the stanza.  

SET THREE RECAP (25-23, EMERSON)

• Things changed in the third with Suffolk ahead 6-5. 
• That lead grew to 11-8 after Jasmine James went on a 3-1 run of her own. 
• The Lions responded with six straight points to flip the script in their favor, 14-11. 
• The Rams had to play catch up and kept it a two-possession outing until Emerson scored back-to-back to make it a three-point gap for the first time in the frame, 18-15. 
• Out of a timeout, Nowakowski's kill broke up the host's scoring stretch. 
• Emerson managed to put another unanswered rally together, this time with a 4-0 run to gain a 22-17 cushion.
• A Rams response came out of their second timeout with a 6-2 spurt to pull back within one, 24-23. 
• Amelia Combs knocked down a kill to seal the set and match for Emerson.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Keowen provided on both sides of the net with 11 kills and 11 digs. 
• James and Nowakowaki added six kills and one block apiece. 
• Johnson set up the offense with 16 assists. 
• Kenzley Bell recorded 18 digs and three assists.  

NOTEWORTHY

• A dozen straight matches between Suffolk and Emerson have been decided in straight sets. 
• Keowen produced her sixth double-double of the season and third double-double in a row.  

POST-MATCH PIC
  

COMING UP
Suffolk concludes its Saturday action against Colby this afternoon.