Syracuse Volleyball snaps ACC losing streak
Syracuse Volleyball snaps ACC losing streak
The Orange comeback to win last two sets to beat first ACC opponent in 31 games.
The Syracuse Women’s Volleyball team (13-9, 1-9 ACC) defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies (7-13, 1-9 ACC) in five sets to snap a 31-game ACC losing streak that lasted for nearly two seasons.
It was a tightly contested battle. There were 31 ties and 11 lead changes in the match.
The atmosphere was electric after the game. Players and fans celebrated the big win, but head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam believed that it’s unfair to judge this team based on record alone.
“If you look at the history of this team, going back two years ago where we started, it was a complete total rebuild, right? You know, again, we were starting a race where we are completely in the back and trying to catch up to teams that are years ahead of us,” coach Ganesharatnam said.
Skyler George and Zhaira Harris-Waddy combined for ten kills in the Orange’s 15-13 victory in set five.
“This is just going to keep pushing us forward. Like all we can do, all we’re going to do is build off this and gain momentum as the rest of the season goes on,” Harris-Waddy said.
The Orange were firing on all cylinders to open the first set on a 7-1 run that featured kills by Harris-Waddy, Sara Wasiakowska and George
The Hokies came roaring back as Jasmine Robinson rattled off two service aces to lead Virginia Tech on a 7-0 run.
The Hokies leading scorer, Hailey Pierce, had five kills in the first set to propel her team to a 25-21 win.
The Orange went on a 5-0 run early in set two that included two kills from Harris-Waddy, a kill by Ava Palm and a service ace by Mira Ledermueller.
Palm picked up a service ace of her own after Cuse successfully challenged a call on the court.
George had a set of back-to-back kills to kickstart a 6-0 run.
Coach Ganesharatnam’s third challenge was successful, and the Orange doubled up the Hokies 20-10 on the next rally before winning the set 25-16.
Virginia Tech opened the third set with a pair of 3-0 runs to take an 11-5 lead.
Anastasiia Nikolnikova, who started set three over Sydney Moore, had two kills in the third set.
Harris-Waddy, Wasiakowska, and George each had a kill on a late 4-0 run before dropping the set 25-21.
The Orange went on a 6-0 run in set four as Harris-Waddy picked up two service aces and Palm racked up two kills
The Hokies battled back, pulling within one point late in the set, but the Orange held on to win 26-24.
Nikolnikova had two kills and George had four kills to give the Orange a 8-6 lead heading into the media timeout.
Harris-Waddy had three kills in four rallies for Syracuse before George finished it with two straight kills to take set five 15-13.