Volleyball Loses to Anna Maria in Straight Sets

BOSTON – In its home opener, the Suffolk volleyball team suffered its second setback in Great Northeast Athletic Conference play Thursday night, falling to Anna Maria in straight sets at Regan Gymnasium. The defeat came by set scores of 26-24, 25-16 and 25-21.

Talia Lombardo paced Suffolk for the third time in 2015, as the freshman tallied nine kills, seven digs and one ace. Chidera Nwankwo added eight kills, while Bridget Allison contributed on both ends of the net with seven kills and five digs. Emma Feeney was the Rams' leader defensively with 11 digs and Liz Kerek played the primary setter with 22 assists. 

The loss dropped Suffolk to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in GNAC play, while Anna Maria improved to 6-5 overall and 1-0 in the conference. The AMCATSC were paced by an 11-kill effort from Jessica Goulet who hit on a .526 clip. Samantha Parker contributed six kills off a .500 percentage and the setter dished out 27 assists. On the defensive end, Carolina Garcia and Amari King notched 19 digs and 12 digs, respectively.

The Rams got off to a quick start in the first frame and held a hefty edge, 18-12. The AMCATS used an 8-2 stretch to claw their way back and even the score at 20-all. Suffolk put together back-to-back scores, but Anna Maria hung tough and tied it up again at 24-24. The visitors capitalized on two straight attack errors from players in blue-and-gold to capture the first set, 26-24.

With things locked at 11-11 in the second stanza, an 8-1 run by Anna Maria swung the advantage in the AMCATS' favor, 18-12. Suffolk attempted a comeback with kills from Madison Martin and Chidera, but the deficit was too much and Anna Maria sealed the set on a kill by Rebecca Foti.

The AMCATS opened the final frame with a 7-0 spurt, before the Rams made it a two-point game off Nwankwo's kill, 10-8. Anna Maria built another large lead, 16-11, but Suffolk hung tough coming with two on three occasions before back-to-back attack errors from Lomardo, combined with a kill from Goulet put the set and match away, 25-21.

Suffolk will return to action this week as it travels to West Hartford, Connecticut for a tri-match at the University of Saint Joseph where it will take on the Blue Jays at 10 a.m., before facing Pratt at 12 p.m.