Syracuse Splits the Final Two Games of Charlotte Invitational
By: Ryan Bridges | @RyanBridges517
CitrusTV Volleyball Beat Reporter
CHARLOTTE, N.C.- On Saturday, Volleyball split their final two games of the Charlotte Invitational. SU squeezed by Wofford in five sets, but then lost to the host team, Charlotte, in straight-sets.
Early on against Wofford, it seemed Syracuse picked up right where they left off yesterday. The Orange took the first set 25-19, and followed that up by winning the second set 25-17.
Whatever Wofford head coach Lynze Roos said to her team before the third set must have gotten the team refocused as they would proceed to win eight of the first nine points of the third set. The Terriers thrashed the Orange 25-13 in the third and claimed the fourth set 25-17.
Both teams were going back-n-forth in a decisive fifth set when Syracuse went on a 7-1 run and coasted to a 15-10 set victory.
It was a different story for the third and final game for SU. However, the initial 3-0 scoreline does not tell the full narrative of the match.
In the first set, the Orange made a late push to even the set at twenty-one after trailing for the entire set. From there, no team could pull away from the other. After winning three points in a row, Syracuse had their first lead of the match and a set point on their hands. Unfortunately, SU not only lost one set point, but fumbled another chance at a set victory a few points later. The ‘Cuse ended dropping the first set 27-25.
Syracuse were at an uphill battle from there on out, as they trailed for most of the next two sets. Charlotte took advantage of their chances with powerfully hit, well-placed attacks, while the Orange struggled to get the ball past Forty Niner blockers. Charlotte won the second set by eight and the third set by four en route to a 3-0 victory in straight sets.
SU will take their 2-1 record down to south Florida to face Kansas State, UCF, and North Florida as a part of the UCF Challenge. The match against Kansas State is on Thursday at 4PM.
