Volleyball Downs Suffolk in Straight Sets

BOSTON, Mass.—The Anna Maria College volleyball team posted a 3-0 win against the Rams of Suffolk University on Thursday evening in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) by scores of 26-24, 25-16, and 25-21.

With the win, the AMCATS improve to 6-5 overall and 1-0 in GNAC play, while the loss drops Suffolk to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in league play.

TWO IN A ROW

Tonight's game marked the fifth meeting and the second-straight win for the AMCATS. Anna Maria is now 2-3 overall against the Rams, as Suffolk took the first three meetings dating back to 2011.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The AMCATS posted a .284 hitting percentage, including a match-best .333 effort in game two, to down the Rams in straight sets. As a team, the Anna Maria totaled 43 kills while holding Suffolk to just 31 kills.

AMCAT HIGHS

Anna Maria was paced by senior Jessica Goulet (Lawrence, Mass.) with 11 kills on a .526 hitting percentage. Sophomore Rebecca Foti (Bedford, Mass.) and freshman Amari King (Lawrence, Mass.) both added eight kills.

Freshman libero Carolina Garcia (Springfield, Mass.) posted a match-high 19 digs alongside 12 digs from King.

Senior setter Samantha Parker (Athol, Mass.) totaled 27 assists on the day in addition to six kills and four digs.

RAM RESPONSE

Suffolk saw a team-best nine kills from Talia Lombardo and seven kills from Bridget Allison. Emma Feeney totaled 11 sigs, while Liz Kerek dished out 22 assists.

FIRST SET

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 Suffolk to capture the first set, 26-24.

SECOND SET

With things locked at 11-11 in the second stanza, an 8-1 run by Anna Maria swung the advantage in their 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 Foti.

THIRD SET

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 within two points 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. 

WHAT'S NEXT 

Anna Maria is idle until next Thursday, when it travels to Lesley for an 8:00 p.m. non-conference match.