Volleyball Brings Streak to Crosstown Challenge

SUFFOLK vs. NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE
Date Time Venue Video Stats Notes Series Last Meeting Last Suffolk Win Streak	Friday, Sept. 13 4:00 PM Viniar Athletic Center Schenectady, N.Y. UnionAthletics.com UnionAthletics.com GoSuffolkRams.com 2-0 Oct. 1, 2022, W, 3-0 Same W2

SUFFOLK vs. SKIDMORE
Date Time Venue Video Stats Notes Series Last Meeting Last Suffolk Win Streak	Friday, Sept. 13 6:00 PM Viniar Athletic Center Schenectady, N.Y. UnionAthletics.com UnionAthletics.com GoSuffolkRams.com 0-1 Sept. 10, 2021 Never L1

SUFFOLK vs. RUSSELL SAGE
Date Time Venue Video Stats Notes Series	Saturday, Sept. 14 11:00 AM Kahl Campus Center Albany, N.Y. Empire8 Network GoSuffolkRams.com GoSuffolkRams.com First Meeting

SUFFOLK vs. SUNY Oswego
Date Time Venue Video Stats Notes Series	Saturday, Sept. 14 1:00 PM Kahl Campus Center Albany, N.Y. Empire8 Network GoSuffolkRams.com GoSuffolkRams.com First Meeting

BOSTON – Suffolk volleyball takes its unbeaten record to upstate New York this weekend for the Crosstown Challenge. The Rams open action Friday, Sept. 13 at Union at 4:00 p.m. followed by a 6:00 p.m. versus Skidmore. On Saturday, Sept. 14, the blue-and-gold will compete at Russell Sage at 11:00 a.m. with a 1:00 p.m. outing against SUNY Oswego wrapping up the weekend. 

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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 X. Fans are encouraged to use the hashtag #RamNation a behind-the-scene look at Suffolk Athletics.

LAST TIME OUT
Suffolk volleyball ran past Salem State in straight sets Tuesday night at Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court. The victory, the Rams sixth straight, came by set scores of 25-10, 25-9 and 25-18. In the triumph, Morgan Kelsey rewrote the blue-and-gold's record book as she became the program's all-time aces leader. 

MORE READING: Volleyball Surges Past Salem State for Sixth Straight, Kelsey Tops Aces List 

RAMS RUNDOWN
Suffolk (6-0), who is on its best known start in program history, rides a six-game win streak to the Empire State. The six wins in a row are the most for the Rams since stringing seven victories together Oct. 12-Nov. 1, 2022. 

The Rams' 12.62 attack receives 2.00 kills per set (kps) from McKenna Keowen (3.00), Chloe Clement (2.40), Emily Norgrove (2.25) and Sami Shore (2.05). The duo of Jayla Martinez and Aislinn Lanigan set-up the attack with 6.05 assists per set and 3.81 assists per set, respectively. Kathy Mo (0.75), Keowen (0.71), Martinez (0.71) and Shore (0.71) are the top serving threats for the blue-and-gold.  

Defensively, Morgan Kelsey's 4.38 digs per set (dps) leads the way. Keowen provides 3.81 dps and Shore pitches in 0.76 blocks per set. 

RECORD WATCH
Rams have the chance to hit multiple milestone moments in 2024. Here's what to keep an eye out on and how close Suffolk's student-athletes are to achieving them. 

GARNET CHARGERS CATCHUP
Union rides a win streak of its own into the tournament as the Garnet Charges took down Russell Sage (3-0), Mount St. Mary (3-0) and SUNY New Paltz (3-1) to bring a 4-2 record into the weekend.  

Shannon McGrath paces Union's offense with 2.95 kps, while Georgia Pinciaro's 2.56 kps is good for second on the squad. Allie Kronenberg and Sydney Scalon share the Charger's setter role with 7.11 assists per set and 3.75 assists per set, respectively. McGrath (0.80) and Shelby McKim (0.63) are the top serves for Union.

Georgia Pool leads the defense with 4.75 dps. McGrath (2.65 dps) and Kronenberg (2.32 dps) are usual defensive contributors as well with Maddie McCarron leading the way at the net with 0.88 bps.

INSIDE THE SERIES

• The Suffolk, Union series is fairly new, dating back to 2021. 
• The Rams are undefeated, 2-0, all-time against the Garnet Chargers. 
• Both battles between Suffolk and Union took place in the Scott Blanchard era.
• One match was decided in straight sets, the last meeting, Oct. 1, 2022, while the first-ever meeting, Sept. 11, 2021 was a four-set decision.

MORE INFO: Suffolk vs. Union – All-Time Series

STATS SHOWDOWN vs. UNION

THOROUGHBREDS THOUGHTS
Skidmore is 1-7 on the season with its lone victory coming over Plattsburg State in straight sets.  

Madison Manning and Jazlin Chen are the top attackers for the Thoroughbreds with identical kps with 1.54 each. Catriona Hoelperl is the usual setter with 4.16 assists per set. Tiffany Flores has also played a setter role with 2.27 assists per set to her credit.  

Defensively, Athena Braverman's 2.68 dps leads the way. Catriona Hoelperl provides 2.00 dps and Chen adds 0.62 bps.

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk and Skidmore have met once, Sept. 10, 2021. The Rams fell to the Thoroughbreds in straight sets the only meeting. 

MORE INFO: Suffolk vs. Skidmore – All-Time Series

STATS SHOWDOWN vs. SKIDMORE

GET TO KNOW THE GATORS
Russell Sage carries a 5-3 record into the tourney, which it opens with SUNY Oneonta and Williams Friday.  

Macey Salvione is an all-around threat with a team-best 4.11 kps and 0.75 aces per set to go along with 2.46 digs per set, good for third on the team. Shea Bryant (2.00 kps) and Emma Freidel (0.73 aces per set) contribute to the offense, which is set up by Emma Rainville (8.07 assists per set). 

Katelyn Atchinson leads the defensive charge with 4.18 dps. Savannah Petersen provides 2.64 dps and Aniyah Kelley Chips in 0.40 bps.

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk and Sage will meet for the first time.  

STATS SHOWDOWN vs. SAGE

LAKERS LOOK
SUNY Oswego sits 4-3 on the year and will face Union Friday before battling Suffolk Saturday.  

Priscilla McReynolds is in the offensive and defensive conversation with2 .65 kps and 2.96 dps on her stat line. Mya Bush (4.57 assists per set) and Harper Phinney (3.82 assists per set) share the setting duties.  

Juliana Santafemia anchors the Lakers backline with 3.43 dps and Lilian Byrne is a force at the net with 0.46 bps.

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Saturday's showdown will be the first-ever between Suffolk and SUNY Oswego. 

STATS SHOWDOWN vs. SUNY OSWEGO

SUFFOLK'S SCHEDULE
The Rams welcome Framingham State to Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court Tuesday, Sept. 17 for a 7:00 p.m. match.