Thursday Tilt at Nichols Up Next for Volleyball

SUFFOLK at NICHOLS
Date Time Venue Video Stats Series	Thursday, Sept. 30 7:00 PM Nichols Athletic Center Dudley, Mass. NicholsAthletics.com NicholsAthletics.com First Meeting

BOSTON – Still in search of its first Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) victory, Suffolk volleyball hits the road Thursday, Sept. 30 as it pays a visit to Nichols for a 7 p.m. conference contest. 

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

SUFFOLK ATHLETICS 2021-22 FAN POLICY
Suffolk University Athletics, following guidance from the University's health and safety protocols, Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC), Centers for Disease Control and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, plans to allow fans to attend home athletic contests during the 2021-22 academic and athletic year.

Fans, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, can attend games. They must be masked the entire time they are on campus, pursuant to institutional policy, and complete a health screening form at the security desk of each building upon arrival. This policy applies to home contests played on campus at the Ridgeway Building's Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court, as well as the Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Memorial Rink and the Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink.

For outdoor outings, specifically at East Boston Memorial Park, fans are asked to respect COVID safety protocols. At this time, masks will not be mandated for fans no matter vaccinated status at outdoor venues.

MORE READING: Suffolk Athletics Announces Fan Policy for 2021-22

LAST TIME OUT
The Suffolk volleyball team forced a fourth frame with a run-away third set, but could not complete the comeback as Endicott put away the way, 3-1, at MacDonald Gymnasium Saturday afternoon. The Commonwealth Coast Conference was decided by set scores 25-16, 25-23, 18-25 and 25-15. 

MORE READING: Volleyball Stopped in Four at Endicott

RAMS RUNDOWN
Suffolk heads into Thursday's tangle on a three-match skid that put the Rams at 5-8 overall and 0-2 in CCC outings. The blue-and-gold forced four sets against both Roger Williams and Endicott, but was unable to take down either league foe.  

McKenna Keowen has made her name known on both the offense and defense side of things. The freshman leads the attack with 3.04 kps on a .226 hitting clip and adds the second-most digs on the squad with 2.73 dps to her credit. Her classmate, Morgan Kelsey paces the defensive unit with 3.36 dps and contributes 0.88 aces per set from the service line. The Rams' 9.80 kps offense is set up by both Harmony Johnson (4.87 aps) and Jayla Martinez (3.95 aps). 

BISON BREAKDOWN
Similar to Suffolk, Nichols has fallen in three straight as well to hold a 2-5 overall mark and a 0-2 CCC record. The Bison last dropped straight set decisions to league foe Gordon and Eastern Nazarene.  

Haylee Granato's 3.08 kps anchors Nichols' 9.33 kps, which receives 2.38 kps from Ryley Plourde. Rachael Veilleux has taken on the main role as Bison's setter with 6.59 aps. Where the Bison have the biggest threat is at the service line as the team puts up 2.21 aces per set with Veilleux's 0.55 aces per frame leading the way. 

Defensively, Liz Diorio's 4.92 dps leads the way with Veilleux adding 2.14 dps and Emily Tinyzin pitching in 0.46 bps. 

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk and Nichols will meet in an official match for the first time. 
• The two teams battled in a home-and-home exhibition. The team's split those outings. Nichols picked up the home match in straight sets and the Rams captured their home contest in a five-set thriller. 

EYES ON THE MATCH

RAMS RECOGNITION
McKenna Keowen of the Suffolk volleyball team earned her second straight Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Rookie of the Week nod after a standout showing in the Rams' pair of conference contests last week. The accolade comes on the heels of a 4.13 kills per set and 2.63 digs per set average in a 0-2 week for the blue-and-gold. 

MORE READING: Keowen Repeats as CCC Rookie of the Week

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk returns to the friendly confines of Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court Tuesday, Oct. 5 when it entertains Wentworth in a 7 p.m. outing.