Volleyball Sweeps Wellesley in Season Opener

QUINCY, Mass. – Suffolk volleyball pulled the curtain back on its 2022 campaign with a straight set win over Wellesley Friday afternoon at the Lahue Athletic Center. The Rams win came via set scores 25-22, 25-19 and 25-14, to jump start action at the ENC Invitational. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 3 | Wellesley 0
RECORDS: Suffolk (1-0) | Wellesley (0-1) 

SET ONE RECAP (25-22, SUFFOLK)

• Out of a five-all tie in the first frame, the Rams rallied four points in a row to grab an edge they held onto until the score hit 19-15. 
• From there, the Blue battled back, outscored Suffolk, 7-2, to put the blue-and-gold in a 22-21 hole. 
• A Jasmine James kill leveled the playing field at 22-all, before Morgan Kelsey ace pushed Suffolk in front, 23-22. 
• After a timeout by Wellesley, Kelsey put the set away on back-to-back aces. 

SET TWO RECAP (25-19, SUFFOLK)

• It was a back-and-forth battle in the second with Wellesley ahead, 14-13. 
• Two four-point runs from Suffolk pushed the Rams in front, 21-16. 
• The teams traded points from there, but the distance the blue-and-gold built was good enough to take the set, 25-19.  

SET THREE RECAP (25-14, SUFFOLK)

• Suffolk trailed 11-10 at the near midway point. 
• The Rams put together an 8-1 run to make things a lopsided 18-12. 
• Down the stretch, Suffolk outscored the Blue, 7-2, to clinch the set and outing.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• McKenna Keowen was on the verge of a double-double as she logged 10 kills and nine digs to go along with one block. 
• Jess Weber led Suffolk's attack with 13 kills behind a .360 attack percentage. 
• Alina Nowakowski provided on both sides of the net with six kills and five blocks. 
• Harmony Johnson set up the offense with 34 assists. She added five digs, two aces and one block.
• Kelsey served four aces, including three in a row to win the first set. She pitched in three digs and one block.  
• Kenzley Bell registered 11 digs, one assist, one ace and one kill.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk won its season debut for the first time since 2019. 
• The Rams moved to 8-11 on day one of the year dating back to 2003. 
• Suffolk played on the road for its first match of the campaign for the second straight season and second time under Scott Blanchard's leadership. 
• Since 2003, the blue-and-gold is 2-10 in season openers when playing away from home. The Rams last win its first match of the year as the true away team came at Mass. Maritime in four sets in 2017. 
• In straight set openers in the last 18 seasons the blue-and-gold is 6-11. 
• Suffolk defeated Wellesley for the first time in program history. 
• The Rams moved to 1-2 all-time against the Blue. 
• Weber made her Suffolk debut. 
• Grace Cervenka and Chloe Clement made their Rams' debut.  

POST-MATCH PIC
  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk has a full day ahead tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 3 when it wraps up play at the ENC Invitational. The Rams will first take on the host Eastern Nazarene 10 a.m. before taking on UMaine Presque Isle at 2 p.m.