'Cuse Captures Four-Set Win at Duke

Friday, November 13

Durham, NC

11:00 AM

Syracuse University

19-7, 10-5ACC

Duke

13-12, 8-7ACC

Syracuse

Duke

11/13/2015 1:45:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

DURHAM, N.C. - The Syracuse volleyball team picked up its 10th ACC win of the season, defeating Duke in four sets on Friday at Cameron Indoor Stadium. With the win, the Orange improve to 19-7 overall and 10-5 in conference play.

Senior outside hitters Silvi Uattara and Monika Salkute powered the Syracuse offense, knocking down 17 and 14 kills, respectively. Senior setter Gosia Wlaszczuk coordinated the Orange hitters in the victory, dishing out 42 assists while adding 17 digs to the mix.

Sophomore middle blocker Leah Levert led both defenses at the net, totaling six blocks while posting eight kills off of a .500 hitting percentage. The Orange continued to prove why they're first in the nation in total blocks, out-blocking the Blue Devils 13 total blocks to three.

Sophomore libero Belle Sand led the Orange back row, racking up 23 digs.

Syracuse jumped out to a 7-2 lead to kick off the match, resulting in an early Duke timeout. The Orange continued to build a favorable lead throughout the middle of the set, 16-6. A kill by freshman Santita Ebangwese and an attack error on Duke's end forced another Blue Devil timeout at the 18-8 mark.

A timeout couldn't slow the Orange down, as Syracuse capped a dominating victory in the first set off of a Blue Devil unforced error and a kill by Salkute, 25-14. The Orange held the Blue Devils to an astounding .060 hitting percentage in the opening set.

The two teams swapped points to begin the second set, knotting it up at the six-point mark. A kill by senior outside hitter Nicolette Serratore put the Orange up by three, 10-7. Consecutive kills by Uattara and Serratore landed Syracuse a steady lead, 15-10, triggering a Duke timeout.

Three successive Blue Devil kills brought Duke within three 18-15, in turn forcing a Syracuse timeout. A Syracuse unforced error and two kills by Duke's Emily Sklar cut the Orange lead down to one, 22-21, prompting another Syracuse timeout.

Following the timeout, a kill by Ebangwese maintained the Orange's lead, 23-22, with yet another timeout being called on Duke's end. A big block by Serratore and Ebangwese and a subsequent kill by Salkute sealed a 25-22 victory for the Orange in the second set.

'Cuse jumped out to 4-0 lead in the third set off of kills by Salkute and two Duke attack errors. The Blue Devils knotted it up at the six, seven, and nine-point marks and began to build momentum from there. Going on a 7-2 run, Duke grabbed a 16-11 lead and never looked back.

A Blue Devil kill and an Orange attack error extended the Duke lead, 22-15, forcing a Syracuse timeout. The Orange put up one last fight in the final points of the set, but two Blue Devil kills finished the third set in Duke's favor, 25-18.

The squads traded points to kick off the fourth set, evening out the score at the 10-point mark. The Orange took off on a 4-0 run off of three kills by Levert and an attack error on Duke's end, 14-10. With Syracuse up 18-13, Duke attempted a comeback on a 3-1 run to cut the Orange lead down to three, 19-16, resulting in a Syracuse timeout.

The Blue Devils continued to challenge a comeback with a kill putting the Blue Devils within contention of the lead, 21-19. The Orange, however, pulled through, mounting a 4-1 run and finalizing a Syracuse victory, 25-20. Kills by Uattara and Salkute capped off the 3-1 overall win for the Orange.

Syracuse finishes road play in North Carolina on Sunday, taking on Wake Forest at 1 p.m. in Winston-Salem, N.C.

For all of the latest information on Syracuse volleyball, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Orange & Syracuse Volleyball), Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseVB), and Instagram (@cusepics & @cusevb).