The Orange sweep their first doubleheader of the season

The Syracuse University Volleyball team is letting the good times roll, at least for now. SU played in their first doubleheader of the season during the Salt City Classic. The Orange matched their win total from last year, two. After wins against NJIT and Lafayette, the Orange have a perfect start. It is indeed, “a start” for a team on an 18-game losing streak.  

The first game of the day against NJIT was a statement game for a trio of transfers brought in by head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam. Ava Palm and Sara Wasaikowski led the charge for the Orange with 12 and 11 kills, respectively. Sydney Moore added three kills and led the Orange with five blocks.  

Elizabeth Schuster, a transfer from Cal State Fullerton, exited the game early in set one and did not return. Nonetheless, in Schuster’s absence, sophomore Veronica Sierzant stepped into the spotlight to help lead the Orange to victory.   

 Sierzant, from Savannah, Georgia, didn’t play setter for the Orange last season, but that didn’t stop her from posting 22 assists and 12 digs.

“Veronica showed a lot of strength and a lot of confidence on the court when she took control which was impressive, so huge shout out to her,” Palm said. 

Mistakes were made in the first game for the Orange, with six service errors in the first set and three in the second before finishing on a high note, with just one in the third.

“Regarding unforced errors, I think — we talk about in our gym –- good errors and bad errors. I thought we had some good errors today, a few bad errors, but overall it was pretty stable,” Baker said. 

Despite the miscues, Syracuse won the match in straight sets, 3-0.

The second game against Lafayette featured great play from Sydney Moore. The graduate transfer from Cornell had 10 kills, and when asked if we can expect more of the same moving forward, she said, “Of course.” The Orange are counting on it. 

Early in set one, Lafayette snapped Syracuse’s 8-0 run. However, Moore’s timely kill kept the momentum alive. Moore’s and Veronica Sierzant’s winning mentality were on full display tonight. 

Sierzant is one of six returnees on the roster. After a strong showing against NJIT earlier in the day, she followed up with 32 assists and six digs against Lafayette. 

The sophomore setter knows that filling the shoes of team captain Schuster isn’t easy. “Liz has a very important role on this team,” says Sierzant. Safe to say, Syracuse couldn’t have finished today any better.  

Syracuse won set one in dominant fashion with a 25-13 victory, followed by a 25-19 victory in set two. The Orange didn’t make a substitution until they went down 18-11 in set three when Klara Zarnovicka entered the game. The Orange could not come back, falling to Lafayette 25-21. Zarnovicka finished the game with six kills.  

Palm had 14 kills in her second game for the Orange. Sophomore Skyler George also contributed 11 kills for the Orange. George comes to Syracuse after not appearing in a game for Utah last year.

“Utah’s loss is our gain,” said Coach Bakeer.

George closed the game for the Orange, winning set four, 25-13. 

The Orange faithful are hungry for more, and they will see more on August 31st when Syracuse closes out the Salt City Classic at Lemoyne College against Canisius at 7:30 p.m.