Cardinals End Orange Winning Streak

Friday, November 15

Louisville, KY

7 pm

Syracuse University

10-12,7-8ACC

Louisville

17-8,10-5ACC

Syracuse

Louisville

11/15/2019 8:51:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

LOUISVILLE, KY – The winning streak came to an end at five for Syracuse volleyball (10-12, 7-8 ACC) Friday night as the Orange were swept by Louisville (17-8, 10-5 ACC), 3-0, on the road. It was the first loss in 21 days for 'Cuse. Three-time reigning ACC Player of the Week Polina Shemanova led the Orange with 10 kills.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Cardinals stormed out of the gates, taking the first four points of the game and an early 9-4 lead thanks to kills from four different players. The Orange answered with a 9-3 scoring run to level the score at 12 and took a 15-14 lead into the first timeout on the floor. With the score even at 18, Louisville took off on a 7-1 run to take the opening set and a 1-0 lead in the match. Shemanova led the 'Cuse in kills with five.

Louisville rode the momentum from its late first set surge into the second, winning by a score of 25-15. The teams were knotted at five, but the Cardinals found a rhythm, forcing the Orange to call a timeout trailing 12-8. Louisville put together a 12-3 run out of the timeout, prompting head coach Leonid Yelin to use his second timeout. Kendra Lukacs posted a service ace, but the Cardinals were ultimately able to take the set and a 2-0 lead in the contest.

The strong play continued for Louisville in the third set, as the Cardinals quickly built a 7-2 advantage. Syracuse would get to within three points, but with an 11-8 lead, Louisville scored the next eight points to build a 19-8 cushion. The Cardinals eventually went on to take the final set, 25-15, sweeping the Orange.

NOTEWORTHY
Syracuse had not lost a match since a 3-1 defeat against North Carolina on Oct. 25 in Chapel Hill. The Orange had not been swept in a contest since losing 3-0 to current No. 2 Pittsburgh on Oct. 11.

Syracuse will have to wait until Sunday for another chance to earn victory No. 900 in program history. Coach Yelin remains two wins shy of 600 for his coaching career.

Aliah Bowllan set the pace in digs (7) and Elena Karakasi led the squad with 15 assists.

WHAT'S NEXT
The Orange wrap up their 2019 road slate Sunday afternoon, taking on Notre Dame in South Bend. The action gets underway at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast live on the linear ACC Network.

Fans unsure if their provider carries ACCN are strongly encouraged to visit GetACCN.com.

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