Syracuse Volleyball wins back-to-back matches for first time in a year
By Zac Ventola | @ZacVentola
Ithaca, NY – Syracuse volleyball (2-2, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) has won back-to-back matches in the form of a sweep for the first time in 364 days. The ‘Cuse beat UAlbany (0-4, 0-0 American East Conference) 3-0 Friday afternoon. Although the Great Danes started out hot in each set, the Orange pulled away with convincing wins every time.
The match marked the 12th time the two programs have faced each other. SU has the overall advantage, 8-4. The two squads matched up Friday as part of the Cornell Invitational.
Syracuse headed into the week winless, but is back up to .500 after sweeping Howard and UAlbany. The win over the Bulls snapped the Orange’s 13-game losing streak.
After trailing 11-9 in the first set, the Orange turned things around quickly. The ‘Cuse won five of the following six points, thanks in part to a pair of kills by outside hitter Kiernan Stamey. The junior transfer from Kennesaw State has proven to be a force to be reckoned with. She has double-digit kills through each of SU’s first four matches.
The Orange continued to pull away from the Great Danes, pulling ahead by five points soon after. Kills from Stamey, Abby Nicholson and Bella Rodriguez helped the ‘Cuse maintain that lead. SU won the first set, 25-20.
After dominating the latter half of the first set, Syracuse looked even better in the second.
Although the Orange trailed 10-7 early in the set, the Great Danes were unable to control SU’s offense. Syracuse won 18 of the final 23 points to win the second set 25-15.
Stamey, Nicholson and Rodriguez each contributed with multiple kills during the impressive run.
Although the final set of the afternoon mirrored the same score as the first, the path to it was completely different.
Syracuse and UAlbany were all tied up at 8-8 before the Orange scored seven straight points. Right side hitter Keila Gabriel got in on the action with a block and a kill. The Great Danes stayed in it, however, winning three consecutive points of their own. Although SU initially led by nine for set point, UAlbany continued to fight back, scoring five in a row.
In the end, it was not enough. Syracuse won the final set 25-20, and the match 3-0.
Syracuse hit a staggering .323 on the day, while UAlbany hit just .105. SU’s 42 kills as a team also crushed its previous season-high (34) which it set against Howard.
The Orange shared the wealth offensively, with impressive kill tallies from four players. Rodriguez (6), Gabriel (8), Nicholson (11) and Stamey (13) paved the way for SU’s win. Setter Charis Burge chipped in with 25 assists.
Syracuse’s next action comes on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. against Cornell (0-0, 0-0 Ivy League).
For coverage of the Orange vs. Big Red and the entirety of Syracuse volleyball’s season, follow @ZacVentola and @CitrusTVSports on X.
