Syracuse Volleyball Swept In Season Finale
TALLAHASSEE, F.L. — After yesterday’s loss at Florida State, it seemed like things couldn’t get any worse for Syracuse. That was until tonight’s game where the Orange (7-9, 7-9 Atlantic Coast) were once again thrashed by the Seminoles (14-5, 10-5 Atlantic Coast) in straight sets, 3-0 (25-13, 25-11, 25-13).
The first few points of each set, Syracuse seemed to be hanging on and keeping with FSU’s pace. Multiple times, the Orange had the game tied in the early stages of each set. But then the Seminoles would go on massive runs and all of a sudden, the Orange would be trailing by double digits.
In the first set, Syracuse seemed to be neck and neck with FSU. They were only down two when the score was 7-5 but later in the set, the Seminoles went on a 10-1 run and came away with the first set, 25-13.
The second set looked fairly similar as the Orange seemed to be hanging around early on. After Viketoriia Lokhanchuk’s kill and a bad set by FSU’s Lauryn Burrows, Syracuse trailed by just one, 5-6. Yet, Florida State again ignited their offense and scored 14 out of the next 16 points. After that, Syracuse seemed to never recover and dropped the second set 25-11.
Can you guess how the third set panned out? The Orange yet again had the match tied at 4 after a kill by Ella Saada that gave her team some momentum. Saada was clapping and willing her team to attempt a comeback. But the Seminoles simply had too much firepower. FSU rattled off 10 in a row apart of a 17-2 run and won the third set with ease, 25-13, to complete the sweep.
The combination of a very talented team (Florida State) and a poor performance by Syracuse is not the recipe for success. The Orange finished with a .037 hitting percentage, their worst mark of the spring season. Despite leading the team with eight kills, Viketoriia Lokhanchuk had eight hitting errors, which resulted in a donut on her hitting percentage for the day.
The Seminoles on the other hand seemed to dominate with ease. They finished with a .364 hitting percentage, one of their highest marks of the season. Taryn Knuth, who is first in the ACC in hitting percentage, led the way for the Seminoles with 12 kills and an astonishing .667 hitting percentage.
Syracuse ends the season at 7-9 overall and 7-9 in the ACC. It was no doubt a disappointing way to end a season that started so strongly. BUT, there is optimism for this team. All but Ella Saada should be returning to Syracuse University in the fall. The Orange are also hoping to have back two of their best players, Polina Shemanova and Marina Markova, for next season. Both athletes have been stuck in Russia this semester due to complications with their visas.
If SU can have those two back, along with a very talented Libero in Lauren Hogan, this team could surprise a few people come next fall.
naluttre@syr.edu | @nickluttie
