BOSTON, Mass. - The Simmons College volleyball team earned a pair of 3-0 victories in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference tri-match this afternoon at Suffolk University in Boston, Mass. The Sharks defeated Suffolk, 25-14, 25-14, 25-13, and downed Mount Ida College, 25-19, 25-14, 25-18 to win their eighth straight match and 11 of their last 14 to improve to 11-13 overall and 9-2 in league play after completing their conference slate. The wins assure Simmons of a home playoff contest in the GNAC Championship tournament. Suffolk finished the day with a 7-19 overall mark, including 2-7 in league play, while the Mustangs stand at 8-19 and 2-7.

Sophomore setter Andalyn Duke (Litchfield Park, Ariz.) helped pace a Sharks offense that put together 20 kills iin the opening match vs. Suffolk. She also added a pair of aces, a solo block and a dig. Junior right side hitter Nicole Alberghini (Northborough, Mass.) finished with a team-high five kills, while sophomore middle hitter Abby Hart (Westfield, Mass.) put down four kills to go with two aces, five digs and a solo block. Sophomore outside hitter Cailin Fredrickson (Columbia, Md.) also contributed with four kills, an ace and eight digs. Sophomore libero Alex Itasaka (Bradford, Mass.) led the defensive effort with 10 digs and a solo block.

Freshman Krista Iacobucci (Rocky Hill, Conn.) and senior Katie Matatall (Danville, N.H.) paced Suffolk offensively as each finished the opener with five kills a piece. Matatall led all players defensively as she posted 13 digs in the game.

Simmons will round out their regular season on Thursday, October 30 when it travels to Worcester, Mass. to take on Worcester Polytechnic Institute at 7:00 p.m., while Mount Ida will be back in action on Tuesday evening as they head to Salem State University at 7:00 p.m. and Suffolk will travel to Lesley University on Monday evening at 8:00 p.m.