Syracuse University
9-4
Texas State University - San Marcos
6-9
Morton Garners SMU All-Tournament Team Honors
9/19/2009 8:30:27 PM | Volleyball
Senior middle blocker Sarah Morton was named to the SMU all-tournament team as the Orange earned a third place finish with a 3-1 loss to Texas State on Saturday afternoon at Moody Coliseum. Syracuse moved to 9-4 on the season with the loss.
The all-tournament honor was the third of the season for Morton, who named MVP of both the Big Orange and Rhode Island tournaments. The national blocking leader, Morton led SU with 36 kills and 12 total blocks through the three matches.
Senior outside hitter Kacie MacTavish set the pace for the Orange against Texas State, posting her tenth double-double of the season with 16 kills and 10 digs. Junior Hayley Todd ranked second with nine digs while Morton added seven. Rookie Laura Homann continued to shine as the starting setter, registering 33 assists.
The Orange continued to excel at the net defensively, holding an 11-7 edge in blocks over the Bobcats, due in part to seven total blocks by Morton. Todd and sophomore Erin Little added three blocks each.
Senior defensive specialist Shanetha McLaurin set the tone for the back row with 21 digs while sophomore Noemie Lefebvre picked up 12.
The Bobcats got ahead of the Orange early in the first set, opening on a 10-4 run en route to taking the game, 25-14. The two teams played closely in the second game, tying at 16 and again at 22 before Texas State squeezed out a narrow, 25-23 victory.
Syracuse surged back in the third set, putting together a 4-1 run with the game tied, 14-14 to go up 19-15. The Orange remained consistent, securing a 25-19 third-set victory.
Texas State opened the fourth set on a 6-1 run to open up what looked like a decisive lead. Trailing 14-22, the Orange staged a comeback with an 8-1 run to pull within one, 22-23, but the Bobcats scored the last two points to take the set, 25-22 and the match, 3-1.
Syracuse returns home for the first time this month on Wednesday, September 23 hosting Cornell at 7 p.m.
