Volleyball to Tangle at Wentworth in CCC Semifinals Thursday

SUFFOLK at WENTWORTH
Date Time Venue Video Live Stats Series Last Meeting Last Suffolk Win Streak	Thursday, Nov. 8 6:00 PM Tansey Gymnasium Boston, Mass. WentworthAthletics.com/Watch GoSuffolkRams.com 6-15 Nov. 4, 2023, L, 3-1 Oct. 6, 2006, W, 3-1 L13

BOSTON – Suffolk volleyball's quest for a Commonwealth Coast Conference crown continues Thursday, Nov. 9 when the fifth-seeded Rams visit the top-seeded Leopards of Wentworth for a semifinal showdown at 6 p.m. 

SOCIAL SAYINGS
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2023 CCC WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
Tuesday, Nov. 7 - First Round
Match 1: #5 Suffolk defeated #4 Gordon, 3-2 – Box Score
Match 2: #3 Western New England defeated #6 Roger Williams, 3-0 – Box Sore
Match 3: #2 Endicott defeated #7 UNE, 3-1 – Box Score 

Thursday, Nov. 9 - Semifinals
Match 4: #5 Suffolk at #1 Wentworth - 6:00 PM – Live Stats | Live Video
Match 5: #3 Western New England at #2 Endicott – 7:00 PM – Live Stats | Live Video 

Saturday, Nov. 11 – Championship
Match 6: Winner of Match 4 vs. Winner of Match 5 

MORE INFO: CCC Championship Central 

RAMS IN THE POSTSEASON

• Suffolk is in the midst of its 17th postseason trip.
• The blue-and-gold is competing as the fifth seed for the fifth time in the CCC Tournament field, third-time overall and first since 2018. 
• The Rams escaped the first round of the CCC playoffs for the second straight season to move onto the semifinals for the second time in as many years in the CCC and fourth time overall. 
• Under Scott Blanchard's guidance Suffolk is 4-4 all-time in postseason play with four semifinal appearances, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023. 
• The Rams aim to earn their spot in a conference championship for the first time in program history. 

RAMS IN THE CCC CROWN CHASE

• Suffolk is in the middle of its third straight trip to the CCC Tournament in as many years in the league. 
• The Rams are the fifth seed in the CCC playoffs for the first time.
• Suffolk captured its first road postseason game Tuesday with its five-set thriller at Gordon. 
• The Rams are 1-2 on the road in CCC postseason action. 
• Suffolk advanced to the CCC semifinals for the second straight season. 

LAST TIME OUT
Suffolk volleyball kept Ram Nation on the edge of its seats as the fifth-seeded Rams rallied from a 2-0 deficit to upset fourth seed Gordon, 3-2, in the CCC First Round Tuesday night at the Bennett Athletic Center. The thrilling postseason victory came via set scores 23-25, 27-29, 26-24, 25-18 and 15-12. 

MORE READING: Five-Set Comeback at Gordon Sends Volleyball to CCC Semis

RAMS RUNDOWN
Suffolk put together a thrilling five-set comeback win over Gordon in the CCC first round to sit 16-13 on the season.  

McKenna Keowen has been the attack leader all season with 2.80 kps with Jessica Weber right on her heels at 2.68 kps. Jayla Martinez has taken the sole setter role as of late with 5.46 apg, while Aislinn Lanigan has split time at setter as well with 3.70 aps. Morgan Kelsey and Keowen are threats at the service line with 0.72 aces per set and 0.66 aces per set, respectively. 

Kelsey anchors the defense with 4.10 dps. Keowen adds 3.18 dps and Sami Shore is a force at the net with 0.84 bps. 

LEOPARDS LOOK
Wentworth has won 13 matches in a row to bring a 21-5 overall mark and an 8-0 unblemished CCC ledger to Smith Court. Ten of those dozen straight victories came in straight sets.  

The twosome of Emma Sanders (3.91 kps) and Kate McLane (3.33 kps) both average well over 3.00  kps to power the Leopards' 12.12 kps attack that is set up by Olivia Baughn (9.82 aps).

Defensively, Amanda Zweifler's 3.46 dps leads the way. Emma Sanders pitches in 2.78 dps and Riley Schoonmaker threatens at the net with 0.71 bps. 

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk looks to snap a 13-match skid versus Wentworth. 
• The Rams are 6-15 all-time against the Leopards. 
• Suffolk is 4-7 versus WIT at home and 2-8 against the Leopards on the road. 
• In sweeps, the Rams are 2-10 versus WIT. 
• Four set decision land in the Lions favor, 4-5. The last outing that ended in a 3-1 result was the 2023 regular-season match, Nov. 4, 2023. 
• The Rams and Leopards have yet to need five sets to decide a winner. 
• Suffolk is 0-5 with Scott Blanchard on the bench against Wentworth. 
• In the Blanchard era, there has been three straight set decisions and a pair of 3-1 setbacks. 
• The last Suffolk victory over Wentworth came Oct. 6, 2006 via a 3-1 score. 
• Suffolk and Wentworth will tangle in the postseason for the first time. 

EYES ON THE MATCH

WHAT'S NEXT?
The winner of Thursday's tilt earns its spot in the 2023 CCC Women's Volleyball Championship and will take on the victor of the semifinal showdown between third seed Western New England versus second seed Endicott.