After crushing the No. 8 seeded University of New England on Tuesday in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Quarterfinal round, Gordon College Volleyball invited the No. 4 Suffolk University Rams to Kanas Court for the conference Semifinals. As the No. 1 regular season conference champs, the Fighting Scots continued to protect their house and emphasized their well deserved title tonight as they flew over the Rams, 3-2 to book their trip to the finals this upcoming weekend.
Valerie Nilan stayed hot for the Scots, leading her squad with a season-high 21 kills as well as six blocks, meanwhile,
Jordan Shaduk added 16 kills on the offensive front followed by
Annie Murphy who booked 14 kills while also matching Nilan's six blocks. Additionally,
Kate Howe recorded 48 assists in the exciting win.
How It Happened
- With an invitation to the Championship game on the line, both squads battled for an early edge but it was the Scots who gained the first sizable lead, capped off by a commanding five-point run to bring the score to 13-4. The Fighting Scots continued to control the court, as a Murphy kill gave the hosts an 11-point lead (17-6) just before Nilan smashed one down to bring the Scots within two of their first set win (23-10). The Rams attempted to come back, but Gordon took the first set, 25-14.
- It was déjá as the Scots led the Rams 5-1 but the Rams battled back to take the 11-9- lead, however, the Fighting Scots orchestrated a small 4-0 run thanks to a kill a piece off of the hands of Macie Carroll and Murphy as well as two Howe aces to regain the lead (13-11). Despite Suffolk locking it up at 13-all, the blue and white came back to widen the gap, 18-14 thanks to a towering Nilan kill, forcing Suffolk to call a timeout. Suffolk got two points back after the break to begin to turn the tables en route to a 25-23 win.
- High off their set-two victory, the Rams charged ahead with a 7-1 advantage but the Scots began to chip away, shrinking the deficit before eventually going on top, 20-17. Suffolk came within one (20-21) but the Scots were too hot to handle in the 25-21 W.
- In the fourth, each side went point for point until Gordon began to pull ahead, 15-9. Looking to extend the game to another set, Suffolk climbed back into contention, knotting up the score at 22-22, never letting go as they took the 25-23 victory.
- With the game on the line, Gordon used the support of the crowd to take yet another 5-1 lead but Suffolk immediately called a timeout and soon brought the score to 5-5. The teams traded points until the Fighting Scots went on a four-point run which was nearly matched by the Rams' 3-0 run of their own, however, back to back kills from Nilan sent the Scots to the 'ship (15-12).
Beyond The Box Score
- Both Annie Murphy and Valerie Nilan booked their 300th kill of the 2022 season, with a current total of 313 and 308, respectively after the game.
- This marks the first time since 2015 that the Scots are off to the CCC Championship game and it is the first time since 2002 that the Fighting Scots are hosting the Championship round.
- After the thrilling victory, the Scots punched their ticket to the CCC Championship as they will host the No. 2 Endicott Gulls on Saturday, November 5 with a 1 p.m start.
