Volleyball Uses ENC Invitational as 2022 Season Debut

SUFFOLK vs. WELLESLEY
Date Time Venue Series Last Meeting   Last Suffolk Win Streak	Friday, Sept. 2 4:30 PM Lahue Athletic Center Quincy, Mass. 0-2 Oct. 9, 2021, W, 3-0 Never L2

SUFFOLK at EASTERN NAZARENE
Date Time Venue Video Stats Series Last Meeting   Last Suffolk Win Streak	Saturday, Sept. 3 10:00 AM Lahue Athletic Center Quincy, Mass. ENC.Athletics.com GoSuffolkRams.com 7-5 Sept. 18, 2021, L, 3-1 Sept. 12, 2017, W, 3-2 L2

SUFFOLK vs. UMPI
Date Time Venue Series Last Meeting   Last Suffolk Win Streak	Saturday, Sept. 3 2:00 PM Lahue Athletic Center Quincy, Mass. 2-0 Aug. 30, 2019, W, 3-0 Same W2

BOSTON – Suffolk volleyball remains on the road this Saturday, Sept. 4 for a tri-match featuring Husson at Albertus Magnus. The Rams will open the day against the Eagles at 1:00 p.m., and wrap up the action against the hosts Falcons at 3 p.m. at Yarnell Athletic Center. 

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.

RAMS REWIND
All, but one Ram is back in the starting line-up from last season's squad that went 11-7 and earned a spot in the CCC playoffs in Suffolk's first season in the league. 

Headlining the returners are all-region and all-conference honorees Kenzley Bell (3.90 dps) and McKenna Keowen (3.49 kps, 2.42 dps).  

RAMS RINGLEADERS
Suffolk volleyball will be led by the threesome of upperclassmen in seniors Kenzley Bell and Harmony Johnson and junior Emily Wheeler will take on the leadership role as tri-captains for the 2022 campaign

MORE READING: Trio Tabbed Volleyball's Cpatains for 2022

RAMS ROOKIES
Suffolk volleyball has added depth to its line-up for 2022 as head coach Scott Blanchard recruited a four-member class that features a trio of true freshmen in Aislinn Campbell, Grace Cervenka and Chloe Clemente and sophomore Jess Weber.

MORE READING: Volleyball Brings in Four Rookies for 2022

GEOGRAPHY 101
Suffolk's 16 players represent 10 states. The core of the Rams are Massachusetts natives with six student-athletes hailing from the Bay State. A pair represents California with Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Texas each sending one student-athlete to Suffolk.

CLASS CATEGORIES
Suffolk's squad hails from each of the four classes anchored by eight sophomores. Three members are true freshmen and seniors, respectively, with a pair of juniors.

COACH'S CORNER
Scott Blanchard burst onto the scene at Suffolk and made an immediate impact as the Rams head coach, leading the blue-and-gold to its first-ever GNAC semifinal run in program history in his first season in 2018.

He upstaged that bout a year later as the master mind to the winingest team in the Rams' record books with a 20-12 overall record. That season included the team's first-ever home court post-season win and second straight trip to the GNAC semis.

A year ago, Blanchard guided the blue-and-gold into a new era, the CCC. 

The fifth-year head coach welcomes back former Suffolk standouts Hannah Fabiano '21 and Talia Lombardo '19 as assistant coaches.

LIFT THE LID

• In 2019, the Rams swept Maine Presque Isle in their debut to capture the first season-opening win in the Scott Blanchard era.
• A year ago, Suffolk was swept at Brandeis to move to 7-11 on day one of the year dating back to 2003.
• Suffolk hits the road for its first match of the campaign for the second straight season and second time under Blanchard's leadership.
• Since 2003, the blue-and-gold is 1-9 in season openers when playing away from home. The Rams last win in its first match of the year as the true away team came at Mass. Maritime in four sets in 2017.
• If the first match has extended longer than three sets, Suffolk has come out victorious with 1-0 ledgers in both four and five set decisions since 2003.
• In straight set openers in the last 18 seasons, the blue-and-gold is 5-11. 

WATCH AND SEE
 

PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
The Commonwealth Coast Conference Coaches' Preseason Poll unveiled the Suffolk volleyball team has been tabbed to finish exactly where it left off a year ago according to the vote conducted by the league's 10 head coaches.

MORE READING: Volleyball Spotted Seventh in CCC Preseason Poll

BLUE BREAKDOWN
Wellesley will lift the lid on its 2022 schedule against Suffolk and is coming off a 9-11 season.  

Senior middle hitter TylerBell Smith (2.38 kps) will led the Blue into the 2022 season after playing some of her best volleyball at the end of last season, finishing with double-digit kills in four of her final five matches. To aid Smith, Wellesley will welcome multiple newcomers after graduating a senior class that helped the team to NCAA appearances in 2018 and 2019. 

INSIDE THE SERIES

• The Suffolk, Wellesley series began Sept. 7, 2018 at the MIT Invitational.
• The Rams hold a 0-2 record all-time against the Blue. 
• One match was determined via straight sets on a neutral hardwood, while the other was a four-set decision at Wellesley in the last meeting, Oct. 9, 2021.
• Both outings between Suffolk and Wellesley have come in the Scott Blanchard era. 

EYES ON THE MATCH

LIONS LOOK
Eastern Nazarene played its way to a NECC Championship and into the NCAA Tournament a year ago to finish the year 17-11 overall.  

Eliana Baran who headlined the Lions attack last season with 3.70 kps returns looking to lead the way once again. Baran will rely on setter Telma Zelaya (2.17 aps), while Samantha Thornton (2.23 dps) and Piper Bolner (0.35 bps) will be looked upon to anchor the defensive unit.  

ENC opens its 2022 Friday, Sept. 2 against UMaine Presque Isle.  

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Since 2003 Suffolk leads the series with Eastern Nazarene, 7-5. 
• The Lions have won back-to-back battles over the Rams in straight sets including the last meeting, Sept. 18, 2021. 
• Five battles have been decided in straight sets. Suffolk is 3-2 in such instances. 
• Four meetings went four sets. Each team owns a pair of wins in 3-1 decisions. 
• Suffolk is 2-1 against Eastern Nazarene when the match goes the distance. 
• In Boston, the Rams boast a 3-1 mark against ENC. 
• The blue-and-gold is 3-1 when playing the Lions on the road and 2-2 at a neutral site. 
• Suffolk is winless (0-2) versus Eastern Nazarene under Scott Blanchard's guidance. 

EYES ON THE MATCH

OWLS OUTLOOK
UMaine Presque Isle will have two matches under its bet before meeting Suffolk Saturday, Sept. 3 at 2 p.m. 

The Owls bring back nine players, who saw little action, on a team that went 4-17 in 2021. 

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk and UMPI will meet for the third time, first since 2019, and second with Scott Blanchard on the Rams' bench. 
• The Rams are unbeaten against the Owls, 2-0, with both victories coming in straight set fashion. 

EYES ON THE MATCH

MAKE THE PLEDGE TO BE THERE
Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death for college athletes. While athletes have many protective factors in place - community, resources, regular exercise - the pressure to succeed and time constraints can elevate their risk of developing suicidal thoughts. The stressful nature of participating in collegiate athletics, especially now with the added pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic, can significantly affect student-athletes and their mental well-being.

On Monday, Sept. 12, join the Suffolk volleyball team in making it a mission to be there and bring awareness to suicide prevention.

MORE READING: Rams Take Stand in Suicide Prevention

COMING UP
Suffolk stays on the road Tuesday, Sept. 6 for a match at MIT at 6 p.m.