Thursday Tilt at Becker Closes Volleyball’s Non-Conference Slate

THURSDAY, OCT. 25 // 7:00 PM  LEICESTER GYMNASIUM WORCESTER, MASS.
LIVE STATS // VIDEO SERIES RECORD // SUFFOLK LEADS, 7-0 LAST MEETING // OCT. 10, 2017, W, 3-2 LAST SUFFOLK WIN // SAME STREAK // W7 EYES ON THE MATCH

BOSTON – The Suffolk volleyball team caps off its 2018 non-conference calendar Thursday, Oct. 25 when the Rams travel to Becker for a 7 p.m. battle.

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LAST TIME OUT
Despite owning the lead in each set the Suffolk volleyball team could not hold off rallies from the University of Southern Maine as the Huskies came back in each frame to secure a non-conference sweep Tuesday night inside Regan Gymnasium. The out-of-league decision came by set scores, 25-15, 25-18 and 25-22.

MORE READING: Southern Maine Spoils Volleyball's Senior Night in Straight Sets

RAMS RUNDOWN
In its final week of the regular season Suffolk sits 10-14 overall. 

A quartet of Rams have stepped up at different times offensively for the blue-and-gold this year with Hannah Fabiano (2.23 kps) and Kayla Barbera (2.12 kps) consistently leading the way. Chidera Nwankwo also produces over 2.00 kps entertain Thursday with 2.01 kps to her credit. Talia Lombardo has held down setting responsibilities, dishing out 7.84 assists per set to go with 0.71 aces per set.

Dakhensey Marcellus has taken on the bulk of the receptions with a team-best 4.47 dps with Barbera and Emma Feeney contributing 2.52 dps and 2.42 dps, respectively. Allison stands tall at the net (0.61 bps) and Nwankwo (0.49 bps), Leah Pedersen (0.47 bps) and Sarah Mullahy (0.43 bps) also pitching in.

HAVE TO KNOW BOUT THE HAWKS
Becker improved to 11-9 on the season after sweeping Newbury Tuesday night. 

Kayla Dupree's 2.10 kps is the main ingredient to the Hawks' attack with Gillian Criddle (1.81 kps) and Morgan Gould (1.40 kps) adding to the effort. Olivia McGuiness (5.46 aps) and Jenna Savoie (4.77 aps) have split setting responsibilities this season. McGuinness also serves as the Hawks' biggest threat the service line with 0.70 aces per set. 

Defensively, Joanna Bampi's 5.19 dps lead the Hawks with Sofia Cullina (4.50 dps) and Voernica Patella-Quinones (3.88 dps) consistent contributors to the effort.

INSIDE THE SERIES

• The Suffolk, Becker series dates back to 2008 with the Rams holding an unbeaten 7-0 ledger versus the Hawks.
• Suffolk has swept Becker three times with the last straight set win over Becker coming in 2010.
• The Rams and Hawks have gone to five sets in each of the last two meetings with Suffolk picking up each 3-2 decision in the all-time series.
• Two matches were decided in four sets (2011, 2015).

EYES ON THE MATCH

ON DECK
Suffolk wraps up its GNAC slate Saturday, Oct. 27 when it makes the trip to Providence, Rhode Island, for a tri-match. The Rams will first take on Johnson & Wales, who sit second in the nation, and Saint Joseph's (Maine).