Volleyball Set to Take on Three Top-25 Teams

Syracuse vs. No. 3 BYU
Game Details	Friday, Sept. 6 \| 6 p.m. \| Milwaukee, Wis. \| Al McGuire Center
Game Coverage	Live Coverage: Video Stats
Syracuse Links	Notes (PDF) \| News \| Roste r \| Schedule
BYU Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule

Syracuse vs. No. 10 USC
Game Details	Saturday, Sept. 7 \| 3 p.m. \| Milwaukee, Wis. \| Al McGuire Center
Game Coverage	Live Coverage: Video Stats
Syracuse Links	Notes (PDF) \| News \| Roste r \| Schedule
USC Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule

Syracuse vs. No. 25 Marquette
Game Details	Sunday, Sept. 8 \| 1 p.m. \| Milwaukee, Wis. \| Al McGuire Center
Game Coverage	Live Coverage: Video Stats
Syracuse Links	Notes (PDF) \| News \| Roste r \| Schedule
Marquette Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule

Following a 2-0 start to the season, the Syracuse volleyball team is set to face a big road test at the Marquette Invitational Sept. 7-9 where it will take on three top-25 teams in No. 3 BYU, No. 10 USC and No. 25 Marquette.

The Opponents
All four teams at the Marquette tournament have combined for a 17-2 record through the first two weeks of the season.

BYU jumped up to No. 3 this week in the AVCA Division 1 Coaches Poll after knocking off then-No. 1 Stanford last weekend with a 3-2 victory. The Cougars bring a 5-0 record into the second all-time meeting between the two teams.

In the first-ever matchup between the two programs, USC enters the weekend at 5-1. The No. 10 team boasts wins over Kentucky, Northern Iowa, Florida and Creighton with its sole loss coming to UCF.

Marquette entered the top-25 this week for the first time this season following a tournament win at the Marci E. Hamilton Classic. The Golden Eagles' sole loss of the season came against No. 15 Baylor. Marquette currently ranks second in the country in kills per set (15.47) and fourth in assists per set (14.47). The two teams last faced off in 2012.

Opening Weekend
Syracuse opened its 2018 season with a 2-0 start after defeating New Hampshire and Connecticut last weekend at the UConn Invite. The Orange took a quick 3-0 victory Friday night over New Hampshire before completing a five-set comeback victory Saturday against UConn.

Freshman Contributions
Freshman Polina Shemanova did not disappoint in her Syracuse debut, recording 18 kills against New Hampshire and adding another 17 against UConn. The 18 kills in a season opener are the most for the Orange since 2012. The freshman currently leads the ACC in kills per set.

After seeing action in one set against New Hampshire, Elena Karakasi played in all five sets against UConn where she accumulated 35 assists, three kills and two blocks to help the Orange take their second victory of the season.

Blocking
After its first weekend of play, Syracuse leads the NCAA in blocks per set with 3.5 The Orange also have three players ranked in the top-20 nationally in blocks per set as Amber Witherspoon ranks fourth (1.75), Santita Ebangwese at 14^th (1.63) and Jalissa Trotter at 20^th (1.5). Witherspoon's mark also leads the ACC.

Up Next
Following the Marquette Invitational, the Orange will travel to Ames, Iowa for the Cyclone Classic Sept. 14-16. Hosted by Iowa State, Syracuse will open play Friday against RV Wyoming at 4:30 p.m. before an 8 p.m. Saturday matchup against Iowa. The Orange will conclude their tournament play with a 1 p.m. match against RV Iowa State.

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