Skylar George Propels Syracuse Volleyball to ACC Opener Win
By Ryan Croke | @ryancroke_
SOUTH BEND, IND. | Following a 3-17 conference record in 2024, Syracuse volleyball (9-2, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) isn’t seen as a team to be feared in a loaded ACC.
That didn’t stop SU from earning a win in its ACC opener against Notre Dame (3-6, 0-1 ACC). It’s the first win in a conference opener for the Orange since 2022, head coach Bakeer Ganeshratnam’s first year with the program.
SU put on a clinic in all facets. Five players recorded double-digit digs. Three had 10 or more kills.
The engine of the effort, undisputedly, was outside hitter Skylar George. SU’s redshirt sophomore tallied a career-high 21 digs and added 15 kills in the win. It was George’s second double-double of the season.
Fellow outside hitter Gabby McLaughlin recorded her eighth double-double in 11 matches with the Orange, recording 13 kills and a season-high 17 digs. Middle blocker Zharia Harris-Waddy joined in on the fun with 10 kills and six blocks.
Setter Tehya Maeva, MVP of last weekend’s Syracuse Invitational, notched 38 assists and 12 digs in her ACC debut. The junior has recorded a double-double in four of her last six matches.
Notre Dame’s size proved challenging, but Syracuse weathered the storm. The Orange survived a 19-kill night from Irish outside hitter Morgan Gaerte. Junior Sydney Helmers’s career-high 12 kills also weren’t enough for ND to topple SU.
The win is a promising sign for SU, which improves to 2-2 in ACC openers under Ganesharatnam.
Things heat up quickly, though. Syracuse stays on the road to face No. 6 Louisville (9-2, 1-0 ACC) on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Cardinals were the 2024 national runner-up, falling 3-1 to Penn State in the national title game.
For coverage of that match and the remainder of the Syracuse volleyball season, follow @ryancroke_ and @CitrusTVSports on Twitter/X.
