Syracuse Beats Virginia Tech in Promising Win
By Ryan Croke | @ryancroke_
BLACKSBURG, VA. | Syracuse volleyball (10-3, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), not known as an upper-tier team in the ACC, took down Virginia Tech (8-6, 0-3 ACC) 3-1 for its best start to conference play since 2022.
It was a hard-fought contest from start to finish. The first two sets both went beyond 25, with the Hokies taking the first 30-28 and the Orange winning the second 27-25. Set three featured a thrilling SU comeback from down 23-20 to win 25-23. Syracuse led the entire way in the fourth and final set, taking it 25-19.
Syracuse, predictably, was led by outside hitter Gabby McLaughlin. The team captain set a new season-high with 21 kills and added 10 digs for her ninth double-double this season.
Right-side hitter Sydnie Waller also sparkled in the victory. The junior’s 12 kills also mark a new season-high. Waller was especially effective in the early goings of the match.
McLaughlin’s captain counterpart, Tehya Maeva, tallied 41 assists and 11 digs of her own. The setter had team-highs in both categories in her seventh double-double of the year. Maeva extended her double-double streak to three matches.
The win is another promising result for SU, which has shown impressive grit over the course of the season. SU remained poised after falling behind 1-0 after a nail-biting opening frame and rattled off three straight set wins to leave Blacksburg victorious.
The Orange started 3-0 in ACC competition in Bakeer Ganesharatnam’s first season with the program. In the two years that followed, they won three conference games total (3-35 composite record).
Now, SU is 2-1 in ACC play with another winnable match on the horizon. Syracuse remains in the Commonwealth to face Virginia (7-6, 0-3 ACC) on Sunday at 1 p.m.
For coverage of that match and the remainder of the Syracuse volleyball season, follow @ryancroke_ and @CitrusTVSports on Twitter/X.
