Volleyball Heads to Great Lakes Crossover to Begin 2023

BOSTON – Suffolk volleyball jet set to Sandusky, Ohio for the Great Lakes Crossover Tournament. The Rams will take on Hiram, Trine, Baldwin Wallace and Heidelberg over Labor Day Weekend at the Cedar Point Sports 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 RINGLEADERS
For the second straight season, Suffolk volleyball will be led by a threesome as upperclassmen Jasmine James, McKenna Keowen, and Emily Wheeler will share the leadership role as tri-captains for the 2023 campaign, head coach Scott Blanchard announced. 

MORE READING: Trio to Captain Volleyball in 2023

RAMS ROOKIES
Suffolk volleyball has added depth to its line-up for 2023 as head coach Scott Blanchard brought in an eight-member class.  

Six true freshmen in Noëlle Kuijt, Aislinn Lanigan, Emily Norgrove, Maddy Olson, Sami Shore and Avery Tatasciore are the bulk of the newcomers with sophomore Natalie Huoth starting her collegiate career at Suffolk as well, while junior Sophie Palmer brought her talents to Ram Nation from New England College. 

MORE READING: Volleyball Welcomes Eight Newcomers in 2023

GEOGRAPHY 101
Suffolk's 20 players represent 10 states with two international student-athletes, one from Brazil and one from the Netherlands. State wise, half a dozen Rams call Massachusetts home. A pair represents Michigan, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. California, Colorado, Georgia, New Mexico, New York and Texas sent one student-athlete apiece. 

CLASS CATEGORIES
Suffolk's squad hails from each of the four classes anchored by eight juniors. Six members are true freshmen with a quartet of sophomores and two seniors.

COACH'S CORNER
Scott Blanchard burst onto the scene at Suffolk and made an immediate impact. He is the master mind to the winingest team in the Rams' record books with a 20-12 overall record and has guided his squad to the conference semis twice.

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

LIFT THE LID

• Suffolk swept Wellesley a year ago to win its first season debut since 2019.
• The Rams are now 8-11 on day one of the year dating back to 2003.
• Suffolk hits the road for its first match of the campaign for the third straight season and third time under Blanchard's leadership.
• Since 2003, the blue-and-gold is 2-9 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 6-11. 

PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
Days away from its first match of the 2023 season, Suffolk volleyball has already rewritten the Rams' record books as the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Coaches' have voted the blue-and-gold to finish in a share of second place in the league standings, which marks the highest preseason prediction in the program's history. 

MORE READING: Volleyball Shares Second in CCC Preseason Coaches' Poll 

OPPONENT OUTLOOK
Suffolk will face four new opponents in Hiram, Trine, Baldwin Wallace and Heidlberg. 

SUFFOLK'S SCHEDULE
The Rams return to Boston and waste no time before hosting MIT Tuesday, Sept. 5 at Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court. First serve is set for 6 p.m.