Statistics
BOSTON -- Suffolk University battled past the University of New England, 3-1 (25-12, 19-25, 25-20, 25-22), in a Conference of New England (CNE) women's volleyball match on Wednesday (Oct. 23) at Smith Court.
The Rams improve to 20-4 overall (3-2 CNE) with the result, while the Nor'easters (2-3) dip back to 15-5 on the season.
McKenna Keowen topped the hosts with match highs of 14 kills and 19 digs. Sami Shore added nine kills for Suffolk, with the assistance of the combined 40 helpers from Jayla Martinez and Aislinn Lanigan. Morgan Kelsey contributed 14 digs on the defensive side, and her three service aces were matched by Grace Cervenka, who had a hand in four blocks.
Hannah Nowell led UNE 13 kills and 16 digs, and
Hayley Shult also registered a double-double with 32 assists and 11 digs.
Ellijah Hanley tacked on 12 kills and
Chloe Miracle supplied nine more.
Kelsey Bradshaw finished with 14 digs, nine assists, and two aces.
The Nor'easters raced out to a 6-1 cushion in the 1st, but were out-scored 24-6 in the rest of the frame. Things were neck-and-neck in the 2nd until consecutive blocks from Shult and
Kailyn Reilly gave the visitors a permanent edge in the stanza (17-15). Back-to-back kills by Miracle made it 19-16, and kills from Nowell, Hanley, and Miracle soon capped the set to level the contest at 1-all.
The spread in the 3rd was no more than four the entire way until the final point. The Rams moved in front for good at 17-16, and it was 23-20 when Keowen followed up a kill with an ace to clinch it.
UNE was ahead or even all the way to 15-14 in the 4th, before a 6-1 spurt shifted Suffolk on top (20-16). Three straight kills from Reilly and one by Mircle knotted things up at 20-all, however, the next four points went for the home squad. Miracle and Shult notched kills to keep the Nor'easters alive, but the Rams wrapped the match on the ensuing play.
The Nor'easters will be back at home for the first time in three weeks on Saturday (1 p.m.) to entertain Nichols College in a league duel.
