'Cuse Defeats Virginia in Five-Set Thriller

Sunday, October 18

Syracuse, NY

1:00 PM

Syracuse University

15-4

Virginia

13-6

Virginia

Syracuse

10/18/2015 5:51:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse volleyball team won its third straight ACC matchup, defeating Virginia in five sets on Sunday at the Women's Building. With the win, the Orange are now 15-4 on the season and 6-2 in ACC play. Syracuse is undefeated on the season so far in matches played to five sets (4-0).

"Of course, we're glad we won," head coach Leonid Yelin said. "(Virginia) I believe has the same (conference) record we have, and they're a team that runs a little bit different kind of offense. We had to do a kind of adjustment that we have not experienced so far. We were able to overcome and win, and we're very happy about this right now."

After dropping the first set to the Cavaliers in extra points, 26-24, the Orange lit a fire in the second set, defeating UVA 25-11. Syracuse continued to build momentum, coming out on top in the third set, 25-18. Down 2-1, the Cavaliers powered through in the fourth set, topping the Orange 25-23 to force a final set. In a rollercoaster fifth set, the Orange defeated the Cavaliers 16-14 to come out on top with the win.

Senior outside hitters Nicolette Serratore and Monika Salkute each tallied a team-high 18 kills. Serratore also added 18 digs on the afternoon, marking her ninth double-double of the season and third consecutive. The Ontario native also recorded three service aces.

Sophomore Leah Levert led the Orange defense at the net, registering a team-high and season-high 10 blocks. Sophomore libero Belle Sand led the Syracuse back row, racking up 19 digs on the afternoon.

Senior setter Gosia Wlaszczuk recorded her ninth double-double of the year, totaling 43 assists and 10 digs, while adding six kills and six total blocks. Senior Silvi Uattara registered her 200th kill of the season, finishing the day with eight kills, six digs, and a season-high seven blocks.

The two teams kept it close to start off the match, with neither team grasping a solid lead until the 14-8 mark with a six-point Cavalier lead. Two more kills by UVA and an attack error by Syracuse put the Cavaliers up 17-10, but the Orange started to build momentum, going on an 8-2 run to bring 'Cuse within one at the 19-18 mark. Syracuse continued to hang with UVA, knotting it up at 24 points. A kill by the Cavaliers and an Orange attack error, however, determined the first set, with UVA coming out on top 26-24.

The Orange and the Cavaliers kept it close once again to start the second set, with Syracuse taking its first lead of the game at the 6-5 mark. A kill by Salkute and an attack error by UVA established a 12-7 Syracuse lead. Back-to-back kills from Serratore put the Orange up 14-7, forcing a Cavalier timeout. Following the timeout, the Orange took off on an 8-0 run, with a kill by Uattara putting Syracuse up 22-8. A kill by Salkute and an unforced error on Virginia's end sealed a dominating 25-11 victory for the Orange.

Continuing to exchange points at the start of the set, the Orange and the Cavaliers tied it up at 7, but a kill and an ace by Serratore and two attack errors by UVA put Syracuse up 11-7. The Orange continued to build the momentum mid set, going on a 6-2 run to expand the lead 17-10. The Cavaliers attempted a comeback, coming within four points at the 19-15 mark. Syracuse, however outlasted UVA in the third set, with back-to-back kills from Ebangwese and Uattara confirming a 25-18 win for the Orange.

The Orange jumped out to a 7-2 lead over the Cavaliers to open the fourth set, but UVA slowly crept back, coming within two at the 10-8 mark. It was then the two teams began to trade points well into the final points of the set. A kill by UVA and an attack error by Syracuse put the Cavaliers within reach of the set, 23-20, resulting in an Orange timeout. Two unforced errors committed by the Cavaliers and an ace by Serratore evened the score at 23. However, a kill by UVA and an attack error by Syracuse ratified a 25-23 win for the Cavaliers, forcing a fifth and final set.

Both squads continued the back and forth battle at the start of the final set. A kill by Serratore tied it up at 7, but a kill on UVA's end and an attack error by Syracuse put the Cavaliers at a two-point advantage at the 9-7 mark. The Cavaliers attempted to take off with the lead, but the Orange continued to answer, knotting it up at the 12 and 13-point marks. A kill put the Cavaliers one point shy of a victory, but two unforced errors committed by UVA in turn set up Syracuse for the game point, 15-14. A major kill by Salkute finalized an Orange victory in the final set and the overall victory, 16-14.

The Orange head down to Florida next weekend, matching up against #18 Florida State on Friday at 7 p.m. and Miami on Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN3.

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