Volleyball Welcomes Notre Dame and Louisville

NOTRE DAME AT SYRACUSE
Game Details: Friday, November 1 -- 7 p.m.
Location: Syracuse, N.Y. | Women's Building
Game Links: Watch | Live Stats
Television: ACC Network Extra
Twitter: @CuseVB
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes (PDF)
Notre Dame Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats

LOUISVILLE AT SYRACUSE
Game Details: Sunday, November 3 -- 1 p.m.
Location: Syracuse, N.Y. | Women's Building
Game Links: Watch | Live Stats
Television: ACC Network Extra
Twitter: @CuseVB
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes (PDF)
Louisville Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – After 19 days away from home, Syracuse volleyball (6-11, 3-7 ACC) returns to the Women's Building for two Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) matches this weekend. The Orange play Notre Dame Friday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. and Louisville on Sunday at 1 p.m. Syracuse swept Virginia, 3-0, in its last home contest Oct. 13.

This weekend's action is available to stream on ACC Network Extra. Fans can only watch if their cable provider carries the ACC Network. Those unsure if their provider carries ACCN are strongly encouraged to visit GetACCN.com.

LAST TIME OUT
Syracuse traveled to North Carolina last weekend to face North Carolina and NC State, losing to the Tar Heels, 3-1, before bouncing back to sweep the Wolfpack. The victory was the first win in program history for the Orange in Raleigh.

'Cuse sophomore Polina Shemanova was named ACC Player of the Week for the first time this season after 45 kills in seven sets against UNC and NC State, with a .348 hitting percentage and three service aces. The St. Petersburg, Russia native now has seven double-doubles in 2019.

Middle blockers Abby Casiano and Dana Gardner each posted career-highs in kills in Friday's match. Casiano provided seven while Gardner had three. Gardner also added a career-high six blocks in the loss.

ORANGE LEADING THE WAY
Shemanova leads the conference in kills per set (4.85), points per set (5.55), kills (301) and points (344). Her points per set mark ranks sixth in the nation and her kills per set is 7th.

Sophomore setter Elena Karakasi currently leads ACC setters with 31 kills and 0.82 kills per set in conference matches.

ALL-TIME VS. THE FIGHTING IRISH
The Orange have won seven times in 31 meetings against Notre Dame in program history. Cuse's last victory against the Irish came in 2017, a five set win at home. Kendra Lukacs led the squad with 13 kills and a service ace in the Orange triumph two seasons ago. Syracuse was also victorious in the teams' first meeting in 1981, 3-1.

SCOUTING THE FIGHTING IRISH
Notre Dame enters the match with a 15-5 record and an 8-2 mark in conference play, winning eight out of their last 10 matches. Their two conference losses come from a five-set defeat to Louisville and a sweep by current #2 Pittsburgh last weekend.

Underclassmen lead the Fighting Irish offense, with sophomore outside hitter Charley Niego, freshman outside hitter Caroline Meuth, and sophomore right side hitter Sydney Bent leading the side with 207, 202, and 189 kills, respectively. Niego leads the conference in total attacks (901) and attacks per set (11.41).

At the net, graduate student Kristin Baer's 87 blocks ranks fourth in the ACC.

The team leads the ACC with an average of 15.86 digs per set and 1253 total on the year.

ALL-TIME VS. THE CARDINALS
Louisville leads the all-time series against the Orange, 22-3, entering Sunday's matchup. The first matchup between the teams was in 1982 and Syracuse won the most recent meeting in 2018, 3-2, on the road. Shemanova provided 19 kills and Ella Saada recorded a double-double with 14 kills and 11 digs.

SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
Louisville is tied with Notre Dame with an 8-2 ACC record, 15-5 overall. The Cardinals were handed losses to Virginia Tech and #2 Pittsburgh in two of their last three matches.

The Cardinals combine for 90 services aces on the season while allowing only 75 to opponents. Four players on Louisville, Melanie McHenry, Alexis Hamilton, Tori Dilfer, and Alexa Hendricks, record double-digit ace numbers.

Redshirt freshman right side Aiko Jones leads the Louisville offense with 212 kills and 249.5 points, good for 9^th in the ACC in both categories.

WHAT'S NEXT
The Orange continue their travels, facing Boston College in a mid-week match on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 5 p.m. before hosting Virginia Tech on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 12 p.m. The match against the Hokies will be Military Appreciation Day. The match will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra, and admission and parking to all home matches are free.

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

Dana Gardner

Elena Karakasi

Kendra Lukacs

Ella Saada

Polina Shemanova

Syracuse University Athletics