Volleyball Runs Win Streak to Five with Sweep of Castleton

GORHAM, Maine – Suffolk volleyball kept its winning ways intact as the Rams defeated Castleton, 3-0, Saturday afternoon at Hill Gymnasium. The straight set decision came via set scores 25-11, 25-10 and 25-18. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 3 | Castleton 0
RECORDS: Suffolk (7-2) | Castleton (2-6)  

SET ONE RECAP (25-11, SUFFOLK)

• Down 2-1, Suffolk scored 10 straight to go up, 11-2, and force Castleton into a timeout. 
• The Spartans sliced the Rams' lead in half out of the huddle, 13-6. 
• See-saw action ensued, which allowed the blue-and-gold to build a 20-10 advantage.  
•  The Rams rattled off five points in a row to seal the set, 25-11.  

SET TWO RECAP (25-10, SUFFOLK)

• Things were fairly even to start the second stanza, but Suffolk held the upperhand, 9-5. 
• Six unanswered Rams points put the distance at double figures, 15-5.
• A Spartans timeout seemed to stall Suffolk and allow Castleton back within eight, 17-9. 
• The blue-and-gold went on to outscore the Spartans, 8-1 the rest of the way.  

SET THREE RECAP (25-18, SUFFOLK)

• Suffolk's early 10-6 edge stayed at six points at the midway point, 16-10. 
• The Rams lead grew to 21-14 before the Spartans stormed back and made it a three-point, 21-18 gap. 
• Four consecutive points from the Rams, a kill by McKenna Keowen and Isabelle Huzar coupled with back-to-back aces from Keowen closed the set.   

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Keowen finished the day with 13 kills, six digs and three aces. 
• Alina Nowakowski registered six kills on a .667 attack percentage to go along with one block. 
• Harmony Johnson and Jayla Martinez split time as Suffolk's setters with 17 assists and 10 assists, respectively. 
• From the service line both Johnson and Morgan Kelsey both served five aces. 
• Kenzley Bell supplied 12 digs, four aces and a pair of handouts.  

NOTEWORTHY

• The Rams won five matches in a row for the first time since winning five outings from Sept. 28-Oct. 5, 2019.
• Suffolk improves to 3-0 all-time against Castleton. 
• The Rams have swept the Spartans in all three meetings. 
• The teams renewed a rivalry, meeting for the first time since Sept. 21, 2019. 
• Suffolk is 2-0 against Castleton with Scott Blanchard on the bench. 
• The blue-and-gold and Spartans clashed on neutral hardwood for the second time, first since the inaugural meeting, Sept. 22, 2021. 

POST-MATCH PIC
  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk concludes action in Vacation Land this afternoon against Southern Maine.