Orange Open Home Slate against Wake Forest

WAKE FOREST (10-3, 0-2 ACC) AT SYRACUSE (4-5, 1-1 ACC)
Game Details: 7 p.m. | Friday, Oct. 4
Location: Syracuse, N.Y. | Women's Building
Game Links: Watch | Live Stats
Television: ACC Network Extra
Twitter: @CuseVB
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats (PDF)
Wake Forest Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats (PDF)

SYRACUSE, NY. – After nine matches away from home to begin the season, Syracuse Volleyball (4-5, 1-1 ACC) will play its home-opener Friday night against Wake Forest (10-3, 0-2 ACC). First serve is set for 7 P.M. in the Women's Building. The Orange are 8-0 all-time against the Demon Deacons, with their last victory coming at home on Nov. 24, 2018 by a score of 3-1.

Syracuse comes into their home-opener with a 4-5 record in 2019, including a 1-1 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play. The Orange began ACC play last weekend, losing in four sets at Georgia Tech and coming back from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Clemson, 3-2, in South Carolina.

After beginning the season 0-4, the Orange are 4-1 in their last five matches. Their non-conference victories have come against Kansas (Big 12), Northeastern (CAA) and Harvard (Ivy).

Syracuse's match against Wake Forest will be shown live on ACC Network Extra, but fans can only watch if their cable provider carries the ACC Network. Fans unsure if their provider carries ACCN are strongly encouraged to visit GetACCN.com.

Hitting on all Cylinders
Through nine matches, Syracuse ranks third in the ACC in hitting percentage (.256). Sophomore captain Polina Shemanova leads the conference in kills per set (4.48) and points per set (4.98). Shemanova is heavily involved in the offense for the Orange, ranking second in the conference in attacks per set with 10.27.

Immediate Impact
All six of Syracuse's freshmen newcomers have seen action in the early-going. Marina Markova and Abby Casiano are regularly in the starting lineup for the Orange, while Izzy Plumer, Berkley Hayes and Vika Lokhmanchuk have also made starts. Markova has an average of 0.61 aces per set to lead the ACC and her 20 total aces rank third. She currently ranks ninth in the nation in aces per set. Freshmen setter Lauren Woodford tallied career highs in both assists (26) and digs (9) in Syracuse's victory over Clemson.

Breaking Down the Demon Deacons
Wake Forest posted a record of 10-1 in non-conference play, but enters Friday after dropping its first two ACC matches against Miami and Florida State, losing 3-0 in each.

Freshman Peyton Suess leads the Demon Deacons with 164 kills and 13 aces, while senior Caitlyn Della has tallied 97 kills and a team-leading 44 total blocks. Della's 1.33 blocks per set and .422 hitting percentage both rank second in the conference. Suess has recorded 3.73 kills per set, sixth most in the ACC. The team ranks fourth in the ACC with a .254 hitting percentage and second in the conference in aces per set (1.66).

Up Next
Syracuse's first home-stand continues on Sunday as the Orange host Duke on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 1 p.m. Admission and parking are free. That match will be televised live on YES Network.

For continued coverage of Syracuse Volleyball, follow us on Twitter (@CuseVB), Instagram (@cusevb) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Volleyball).

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Players Mentioned

Abby Casiano

Berkley Hayes

Marina Markova

Polina Shemanova

Lauren Woodford

Syracuse University Athletics