Wednesday, October 23
Syracuse, NY
7 p.m.
Syracuse University
vs
RV Virginia
Volleyball Faces Virginia Wednesday On ACC Network
10/22/2024 9:38:00 AM | Volleyball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse University volleyball team (12-8, 0-8 ACC) continues its four-match homestand on Wednesday night, as the Orange welcome Virginia (15-4, 5-3 ACC) in the first of two ACC Network matches for 'Cuse this season.
The contest at the Women's Building is slated for a 7 p.m. start and will be Syracuse's lone home match to air on ACC Network.
Hot Start
The Orange completed non-conference play undefeated (12-0) for the first time since the 2010 season. Syracuse finished as one of the final seven unbeaten teams in the country after its 12-0 start to the campaign.
The Orange went 3-0 at the Salt City Classic, Big Apple Tournament, Siena Saints Invitational and Syracuse Invitational to secure its perfect non-conference resume.
Syracuse earned its first victory over a power-four opponent this season on Sept. 21, as the Orange topped Iowa State in a thrilling five setter.
'Cuse is 5-2 at the Women's Building this season, which includes five victories at the team's two home tournaments.
Air Ava
Graduate transfer Ava Palm has been the focal point of Syracuse's offense this season.
Palm leads the Orange and is No. 9 in the ACC this season with 219 kills. She has racked up double-digit kills in 14 of Syracuse's 20 contests. Palm has been the team's leader in kills on 12 occasions this season.
In addition to her dynamic hitting, Palm has also stuffed the stat sheet defensively, as her 145 digs lead the Orange.
Palm has recorded three double-doubles this season, including two in ACC play. She delivered 12 kills with a season-high 17 digs on Sept. 29 against Duke and put up 16 kills to go along with 10 kills at California.
The outside hitter also leads the Orange in aces (23) and is third on the team with 38 blocks.
Block Party
The Syracuse front line has been a force so far this season, as the Orange currently rank No. 7 in the ACC in blocks per set (2.50).
Syracuse put down a season-best 17 blocks against California on Oct. 12, the team's most in a match since registering 18 against Hartford on Sept. 4, 2021.
Anastasiia Nikolnikova is pacing the Orange with 65 blocks on the season, with Sydney Moore close behind at 60.
Nikolnikova's 1.35 blocks per set are the fifth most in the ACC.
Sierzant Shining
Veronica Sierzant has started the last six matches at setter for the Orange and has served as a steady leader for the Syracuse offense.
The sophomore recently set new career highs in assists (48) and digs (20) against California on Oct. 12, both of which were also highs for the team this season. It was her first time surpassing 40 assists in a match and the most assists by a Syracuse player in a match since Elena Karakasi notched 58 against Florida State on Oct. 31, 2024.
Sierzant's double-double against the Golden Bears was her second of the season and third of her career. Both of her double-doubles this season have come in ACC play, as she previously tallied 12 assists and 11 digs against North Carolina on Sept. 27.
Sierzant has the team best in assists this season with 318. She tallied 20 in both of Syracuse's matches against Miami and No. 19 Florida State last weekend. She is currently on a streak of three consecutive matches with 20+ assists, her second longest of the season.
Sky Money
Skylar George has created a dynamic duo with fellow outside Ava Palm so far this season. George has registered three double-doubles on the campaign, with the most recent coming against Iowa State on Sept. 21. All three have been achieved with double-digit kills and digs.
The redshirt freshman came one dig away from another double-double against Duke in 'Cuse's opening weekend of ACC play, as she finished the contest with 12 kills and nine digs. George has reached double-digit digs five times this season, and her 129 digs are the second most on the team.
The outside hitter is currently second on the team in kills (146) and her 2.15 kills per set trail only Palm for the most on the Orange.
George's serve has also been a weapon this season, as her 22 aces are the second most on the team.
Sweet Annie
In her 17 appearances this season, Anastasiia Nikolnikova has made an impact both offensively and defensively.
Nikolnikova is currently ranked No. 2 in the ACC and No. 19 in the country in hitting percentage (.410). The junior has hit at least .400 in nine contests this season. She hit over .500 in both of Syracuse's opening weekend ACC matches against North Carolina and Duke.
Nikolnikova is also leading the Orange in blocks per set (1.35) and blocks (65). She ranks No. 5 in the ACC and No. 26 in the NCAA in blocks per set.
We Want Moore
Sydney Moore's 60 blocks are the second most on the Orange this season. Moore is one of just two 'Cuse players averaging over a block per set, along with Anastasiia Nikolnikova.
Moore tied her career high with nine blocks against California on Oct. 12. The California native led the way in what was a 17-block effort for the Orange against the Golden Bears.
In addition to her defensive presence in 'Cuse's front row, Moore has also been a steady contributor to the Orange offense this season and is one of the most efficient hitters in the ACC. Moore's 87 kills are tied for the third most on the team and she has hit at least .500 in six matches this season and has hit .700 or better on two occasions.
The graduate student earned All-Tournament honors at three events this season - The Salt City Classic, Siena Saints Invitational and Syracuse Invitational.
Efficient Offense
For the first time since the 2021 season and the first time under head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam, Syracuse hit over .300 as a team in four consecutive matches earlier this year, a stretch that started with the team's season opener against NJIT on Aug. 30 and extended through 'Cuse's match against Columbia on Sept. 6.
'Cuse opened the season by hitting .320 with 35 kills in its win against NJIT. The Orange followed that by hitting .330 later that evening in a win over Lafayette.
Against Canisius on Aug. 31, Syracuse hit .376, its best in a match as a team since hitting .398 against South Alabama on Sept. 19, 2021.
Syracuse matched its season high with 57 kills against California. The Orange hit .471 in the second set against the Golden Bears, their best in an ACC set this season and best in any set since hitting .517 in the second against Canisius on Aug. 31.
Coming Up Aces
The serve has been a crucial part of Syracuse's success this season, as the Orange are currently tied with No. 25 North Carolina for third most aces in the ACC this season.
Syracuse's 120 aces this season trail just ACC heavyweights No. 1 Pittsburgh (125) and No. 12 SMU (123). 'Cuse's 1.74 aces per set are also fourth in the conference.
Ava Palm has a team-high 23 aces on the season. Fellow outside hitter Skylar George trails her with 22 aces. Anastasiia Nikolnikova and Sara Wasiakowska are tied for the third most aces on the team with 14 apiece.
Scouting Virginia
Virginia currently sits 15-4 overall on the season and is 5-3 in ACC matches. The Cavaliers are receiving votes in this week's AVCA top 25 poll.
On Oct. 4, Virginia took down then No. 16 ranked Florida State, winning the match 3-0. Virginia's victory over the Seminoles was the team's first ever against Florida State, and its first win over a ranked opponent since 2010. This also marks the highest ranked opponent Virginia has defeated in its program history.
Last weekend against Duke, Virginia snapped a 12-match losing streak to Duke. The Cavaliers swept Duke for the first time since 2004.
Viriginia ranks No. 2 in kills in the ACC, totaling 912. As a team, they are 10th in points per set (16.48).
Junior Kate Dean lands in the top five in the ACC with a hitting percentage of .383. Senior Abby Tadder cracks the top 10 for average blocks per set in the conference with 1.16. and also leads the Cavaliers in kills with 299.
Elayna Duprey is Virginia's top hitter this season with 193 kills. Tadder is close on her heels with 191. Brooklyn Borum (153) and Dean (114) also both have triple-digit putaways. Ashley Ye (446) and Zoey Dood (221) are pacing the team in assists. Milan Gomillion leads the Cavaliers with 4.24 digs per set.
Kate Johnson recorded a career high in the team's last match against North Carolina for service aces with five. Furthermore, Johnson's five service aces are the most by a Cavalier in a match since 2023 and tied for the fifth most all-time in Virginia single-match history.
Syracuse vs. Virginia | Syracuse leads, 11-4 | Last Meeting: L 1-3, Sept. 29, 2023
Syracuse vs. Virginia Briefing
Match Details: Oct. 23, 2024 | Syracuse, N.Y. | Women's Building | 7 p.m.
Live Video: ACC Network
Live Coverage: Stats
Twitter: @CuseVB
Instagram: @cusevb
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
Virginia Links: Roster | Schedule
Up Next
Syracuse concludes its longest homestand of the season on Sunday with a match against Virginia Tech. The contest will begin at 1 p.m. on ACCNX.
For the latest news on the Syracuse volleyball program, follow /CuseVB on Facebook, @CuseVB on Instagram, and @CuseVB on X/Twitter.
The contest at the Women's Building is slated for a 7 p.m. start and will be Syracuse's lone home match to air on ACC Network.
Hot Start
The Orange completed non-conference play undefeated (12-0) for the first time since the 2010 season. Syracuse finished as one of the final seven unbeaten teams in the country after its 12-0 start to the campaign.
The Orange went 3-0 at the Salt City Classic, Big Apple Tournament, Siena Saints Invitational and Syracuse Invitational to secure its perfect non-conference resume.
Syracuse earned its first victory over a power-four opponent this season on Sept. 21, as the Orange topped Iowa State in a thrilling five setter.
'Cuse is 5-2 at the Women's Building this season, which includes five victories at the team's two home tournaments.
Air Ava
Graduate transfer Ava Palm has been the focal point of Syracuse's offense this season.
Palm leads the Orange and is No. 9 in the ACC this season with 219 kills. She has racked up double-digit kills in 14 of Syracuse's 20 contests. Palm has been the team's leader in kills on 12 occasions this season.
In addition to her dynamic hitting, Palm has also stuffed the stat sheet defensively, as her 145 digs lead the Orange.
Palm has recorded three double-doubles this season, including two in ACC play. She delivered 12 kills with a season-high 17 digs on Sept. 29 against Duke and put up 16 kills to go along with 10 kills at California.
The outside hitter also leads the Orange in aces (23) and is third on the team with 38 blocks.
Block Party
The Syracuse front line has been a force so far this season, as the Orange currently rank No. 7 in the ACC in blocks per set (2.50).
Syracuse put down a season-best 17 blocks against California on Oct. 12, the team's most in a match since registering 18 against Hartford on Sept. 4, 2021.
Anastasiia Nikolnikova is pacing the Orange with 65 blocks on the season, with Sydney Moore close behind at 60.
Nikolnikova's 1.35 blocks per set are the fifth most in the ACC.
Sierzant Shining
Veronica Sierzant has started the last six matches at setter for the Orange and has served as a steady leader for the Syracuse offense.
The sophomore recently set new career highs in assists (48) and digs (20) against California on Oct. 12, both of which were also highs for the team this season. It was her first time surpassing 40 assists in a match and the most assists by a Syracuse player in a match since Elena Karakasi notched 58 against Florida State on Oct. 31, 2024.
Sierzant's double-double against the Golden Bears was her second of the season and third of her career. Both of her double-doubles this season have come in ACC play, as she previously tallied 12 assists and 11 digs against North Carolina on Sept. 27.
Sierzant has the team best in assists this season with 318. She tallied 20 in both of Syracuse's matches against Miami and No. 19 Florida State last weekend. She is currently on a streak of three consecutive matches with 20+ assists, her second longest of the season.
Sky Money
Skylar George has created a dynamic duo with fellow outside Ava Palm so far this season. George has registered three double-doubles on the campaign, with the most recent coming against Iowa State on Sept. 21. All three have been achieved with double-digit kills and digs.
The redshirt freshman came one dig away from another double-double against Duke in 'Cuse's opening weekend of ACC play, as she finished the contest with 12 kills and nine digs. George has reached double-digit digs five times this season, and her 129 digs are the second most on the team.
The outside hitter is currently second on the team in kills (146) and her 2.15 kills per set trail only Palm for the most on the Orange.
George's serve has also been a weapon this season, as her 22 aces are the second most on the team.
Sweet Annie
In her 17 appearances this season, Anastasiia Nikolnikova has made an impact both offensively and defensively.
Nikolnikova is currently ranked No. 2 in the ACC and No. 19 in the country in hitting percentage (.410). The junior has hit at least .400 in nine contests this season. She hit over .500 in both of Syracuse's opening weekend ACC matches against North Carolina and Duke.
Nikolnikova is also leading the Orange in blocks per set (1.35) and blocks (65). She ranks No. 5 in the ACC and No. 26 in the NCAA in blocks per set.
We Want Moore
Sydney Moore's 60 blocks are the second most on the Orange this season. Moore is one of just two 'Cuse players averaging over a block per set, along with Anastasiia Nikolnikova.
Moore tied her career high with nine blocks against California on Oct. 12. The California native led the way in what was a 17-block effort for the Orange against the Golden Bears.
In addition to her defensive presence in 'Cuse's front row, Moore has also been a steady contributor to the Orange offense this season and is one of the most efficient hitters in the ACC. Moore's 87 kills are tied for the third most on the team and she has hit at least .500 in six matches this season and has hit .700 or better on two occasions.
The graduate student earned All-Tournament honors at three events this season - The Salt City Classic, Siena Saints Invitational and Syracuse Invitational.
Efficient Offense
For the first time since the 2021 season and the first time under head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam, Syracuse hit over .300 as a team in four consecutive matches earlier this year, a stretch that started with the team's season opener against NJIT on Aug. 30 and extended through 'Cuse's match against Columbia on Sept. 6.
'Cuse opened the season by hitting .320 with 35 kills in its win against NJIT. The Orange followed that by hitting .330 later that evening in a win over Lafayette.
Against Canisius on Aug. 31, Syracuse hit .376, its best in a match as a team since hitting .398 against South Alabama on Sept. 19, 2021.
Syracuse matched its season high with 57 kills against California. The Orange hit .471 in the second set against the Golden Bears, their best in an ACC set this season and best in any set since hitting .517 in the second against Canisius on Aug. 31.
Coming Up Aces
The serve has been a crucial part of Syracuse's success this season, as the Orange are currently tied with No. 25 North Carolina for third most aces in the ACC this season.
Syracuse's 120 aces this season trail just ACC heavyweights No. 1 Pittsburgh (125) and No. 12 SMU (123). 'Cuse's 1.74 aces per set are also fourth in the conference.
Ava Palm has a team-high 23 aces on the season. Fellow outside hitter Skylar George trails her with 22 aces. Anastasiia Nikolnikova and Sara Wasiakowska are tied for the third most aces on the team with 14 apiece.
Scouting Virginia
Virginia currently sits 15-4 overall on the season and is 5-3 in ACC matches. The Cavaliers are receiving votes in this week's AVCA top 25 poll.
On Oct. 4, Virginia took down then No. 16 ranked Florida State, winning the match 3-0. Virginia's victory over the Seminoles was the team's first ever against Florida State, and its first win over a ranked opponent since 2010. This also marks the highest ranked opponent Virginia has defeated in its program history.
Last weekend against Duke, Virginia snapped a 12-match losing streak to Duke. The Cavaliers swept Duke for the first time since 2004.
Viriginia ranks No. 2 in kills in the ACC, totaling 912. As a team, they are 10th in points per set (16.48).
Junior Kate Dean lands in the top five in the ACC with a hitting percentage of .383. Senior Abby Tadder cracks the top 10 for average blocks per set in the conference with 1.16. and also leads the Cavaliers in kills with 299.
Elayna Duprey is Virginia's top hitter this season with 193 kills. Tadder is close on her heels with 191. Brooklyn Borum (153) and Dean (114) also both have triple-digit putaways. Ashley Ye (446) and Zoey Dood (221) are pacing the team in assists. Milan Gomillion leads the Cavaliers with 4.24 digs per set.
Kate Johnson recorded a career high in the team's last match against North Carolina for service aces with five. Furthermore, Johnson's five service aces are the most by a Cavalier in a match since 2023 and tied for the fifth most all-time in Virginia single-match history.
Syracuse vs. Virginia | Syracuse leads, 11-4 | Last Meeting: L 1-3, Sept. 29, 2023
Syracuse vs. Virginia Briefing
Match Details: Oct. 23, 2024 | Syracuse, N.Y. | Women's Building | 7 p.m.
Live Video: ACC Network
Live Coverage: Stats
Twitter: @CuseVB
Instagram: @cusevb
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
Virginia Links: Roster | Schedule
Up Next
Syracuse concludes its longest homestand of the season on Sunday with a match against Virginia Tech. The contest will begin at 1 p.m. on ACCNX.
For the latest news on the Syracuse volleyball program, follow /CuseVB on Facebook, @CuseVB on Instagram, and @CuseVB on X/Twitter.
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