Syracuse volleyball gets its first win of the season in five sets against Clemson

Syracuse volleyball won its first spring season game in a five-set match against Clemson. After winning the first two sets and losing the other two, the Orange won 16-14 in the fifth and decisive set. Cuse’s game against North Carolina on Saturday was also deadlocked 14-14 the fifth set, but didn’t go the Orange’s way.

Head coach Leonid Yelin went with a different approach and changed the starting line-up. Syracuse led with middle blockers Izzy Plummer and Abby Casiano, outside hitters Ella Saada and Viktoriia Lokhmanchuk, setter Elena Karakasi, right side hitter Naomi Franco and libero Lauren Hogan.

The first set started with Saada on the service line, followed by a killing error from Clemson to open the scoring game for the Orange. After several errors from Cuse, the Tigers tied the game 4-4. Clemson used their first challenge of the game to cut Syracuse’s lead by one. A three-point rally from defensive specialist Berkley Hayes tied the game for the Orange.

After back-to-back points from both teams, a kill from Casiano gave Syracuse the 11-10 lead. The Tigers tied the game 12-12 but an offensive play by Karakasi and a kill from Franco gave the lead back to the Orange. Syracuse went on a roll and left Clemson behind with a score of 17-13, but another run from the Tigers forced Cuse’s first timeout of the game. An ace from Lokhmanchuk forced Clemson’s second timeout of the set, and put Syracuse two points out from winning. A spectacular dig from Hogan and a kill from Saada gave the victory to the Orange, 25-20.

Clemson started the scoring game in the second set, but a kill from Lokhmanchuk stopped their momentum. A dump from Karakasi tied the game 5-5. The scoring game then went back-and-forth but the Tigers got the 9-7 lead. After a tough call from the referees, Clemson used their second challenge of the game. A seven-point rally from Saada on the service line gave Syrause the 15-10 lead.

After an out-of-bounds call from the referees, the Tigers used their last challenge of the game. The Tigers job on the service line pressured Syracuse to call their first time-out of the set. A kill from Saada kept the Orange’s lead and forced Clemson to call their second timeout of the set putting the score at 21-16. Several points from the Tigers pushed Yelin to use his last time out of the set. Two service errors from Clemson gave the match-point and win to Syracuse 25-21 and the Orange led the game 2-0.

Saada started the third set on the service line, but it was Franco who started the scoring game for Cuse. Several kills from Clemson forced Syracuse’s first timeout of the set with a score of 1-5. After some killing errors from the Orange, Yuliia Yastrub entered the game. A kill from Franco and another one from Yastrub left Syracuse trailing by four and forced the Tigers first timeout of the set. Two consecutive kills from Casiano forced Clemson to call their second timeout of the set. After Cuse fought back from an eight-point deficit, the Tigers won the match 25-20. The Orange were still leading the game 2-1.