Volleyball Extends GNAC Win Streak to Six with 3-2 Win at Norwich

NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Suffolk volleyball team captured its sixth-straight GNAC contest behind a thrilling 3-2 triumph over Norwich at Andrews Hall Saturday afternoon. The victory came behind set scores of 25-19, 25-19, 15-25, 24-26 and 16-14.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 3, Norwich 2
RECORDS: Suffolk (10-13, 7-3 GNAC) | Norwich (9-13, 2-18 GNAC) 

SET ONE RECAP (25-19, SUFFOLK)

• Suffolk climbed out of a 6-3 hole to gain a 9-7 edge. 
• The Rams built a 15-10 advantage thanks to a 4-0 run. 
• The Cadets kept things interesting and made it a two-point frame, 15-13. 
• Norwich continued to hang with Suffolk until the blue-and-gold put up three straight points to grab a 24-18 cushion. 
• A kill by Norwich's Kathryn Farnum broke up the Rams' run, but it would not be enough as a block by Bridget Allison gained the frame win for Suffolk, 25-19. 

SET TWO RECAP (25-19, SUFFOLK)

• Suffolk scored the first four points of the frame and quickly gained a 7-1 edge. 
• Out of its own time, Norwich made things interesting and cut the deficit to one, 9-8, before evening the playing field at 11-all.
• The Rams did not relinquish the lead, however, as they went ahead 17-14.
• From 22-19, Suffolk scored three straight to secure the second set, 25-19. 

SET THREE RECAP (25-15, NORWICH)

• The team's swapped points in the opening before Norwich blew open a hefty 17-5 advantage behind a 12-1 run. 
• Chidera Nwankwo anchored a Suffolk comeback, but it fell short as the Cadets forced the fourth frame thanks to four consecutive points to close the stanza, 25-15. 

SET FOUR RECAP (26-24, NORWICH)

• Suffolk broke open an 8-all tie with a 5-0 run to go up 13-8. 
• See-saw action ensued before the Rams rattled off three straight points to gain a seven-point advantage, 17-10. 
• The Rams remained on top 23-14 and a service error by Addison Hall had set and match point in sight for the blue-and-gold. 
• The Cadets stormed back though thanks to seven unanswered points, which forced Scott Blanchard to take a timeout. 
• Out of the Rams' break, Norwich's run continued as it evened things at 24-all, before scoring the next two points to claim the frame, 26-14. 

SET FIVE RECAP (16-14, SUFFOLK)

• More back-and-forth action carried into the final frame. 
• Down 6-4, Suffolk climbed back to go up 9-6.
• Norwich gained momentum out of its own timeout to cut the Rams' edge to one, 11-10. 
• Blanchard called the blue-and-gold over once again, but it did not slow down the Cadets who went ahead, 14-12.
• Sarah Mullahy's kill sparked a Suffolk comeback and the Rams closed out the match with four consecutive points.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Nwankwo (12), Hannah Fabiano (11) and Allison(10) all produced double figure kills for Suffolk's attack.
• Talia Lombardo set up the offense with 39 handouts to go with four aces and nine digs. 
• Dakhensey Marcellus (23), Emma Feeney (16) and Kayla Barbera (15) all held down the defense, which also received five blocks each from Allison and Nwankwo.  

NOTEWORTHY

• The Rams won their sixth straight versus the Cadets to take a 7-6 edge in the all-time series. 
• Suffolk swept Norwich for the sixth consecutive meeting and sixth time overall.
• The win marks Suffolk's seventh conference victory of the season, the most since tallying eight league triumphs in 2005.
• Suffolk and Norwich went to five sets for the first-time in the all-time series.
• Suffolk has now won six conference matches in a row, marking the longest league win streak for the Rams in the program's record book, which date through the 2003 season.
• The Rams are 2-0 in five-set matches under Blanchard's guidance. 

POST-MATCH PIC

COMING UP
Suffolk concludes its Saturday action this afternoon at approximately 3 p.m. versus Norwich.