Orange Tally Double-Digit Blocks In Loss At No. 15 Georgia Tech

Friday, November 15

Atlanta, Ga.

5 p.m.

Syracuse University

14-13,2-13ACC

No. 15 Georgia Tech

19-5,11-4ACC

Syracuse

Georgia Tech

Orange Tally Double-Digit Blocks In Loss At No. 15 Georgia Tech

11/15/2024 7:08:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

ATLANTA – For the fourth time in the last six matches, the Syracuse University volleyball team (14-13, 2-13 ACC) reached double-digit blocks, but the strong effort up front was not enough on Friday, as the Orange fell in straight sets at No. 15 Georgia Tech (19-5, 11-4 ACC).

Syracuse put down 10.5 blocks, with six players delivering multiple rejections. The performance came one match after the Orange had a season-best 19 blocks in a win over Notre Dame on Nov. 10. Georgia native Veronica Sierzant paced 'Cuse with five denials.

How It Happened
After an opening kill by Anastasiia Nikolnikova, Georgia Tech reeled off the next six points to take an early lead. The Yellow Jackets extended the advantage to seven before a 7-2 Orange run that included back-to-back blocks from Nikolnikova and Veronica Sierzant, an Ava Palm Kill and a Greta Schlichter ace trimmed Tech's lead to 13-11. The Yellow Jackets responded by earning the next four points and withstood a late 3-0 'Cuse run to win the opening frame, 25-16.

Georgia Tech went up 4-1 to start the second set but Syracuse took the next five points with a scoring stretch punctuated by a Sydnie Waller kill. However, the Yellow Jackets responded immediately with eight of the next 10 points to seize a 13-7 advantage. A Nikolnikova kill brought the Orange back within three at 15-12, but it was the closest 'Cuse would get, with Tech rattling off 10 of the next 13 points for a 25-15 victory.

The Yellow Jackets rolled early in the third, winning the first eight points. Sara Wasiakowska got the Orange on the board with a kill before Pola Bujnarowska provided a spark off the bench with three blocks in a six-point span to make the score 11-6 in favor of Tech. After Georgia Tech won the next point, Waller registered a kill to bring 'Cuse back within five. The Yellow Jackets again had the answer, winning four of the next five points to go up 17-8. Palm stopped the run with a kill, which began a 3-0 spurt for Syracuse. After Georgia Tech took the lead back to seven, another Waller kill brought the Orange to within five at 20-15. 'Cuse could not get any closer though, as Georgia Tech dropped just two more points on the way to a 25-17 triumph.

Notes & Highlights

Sophomore Veronica Sierzant, who hails from Savannah, matched her career best with five blocks to go along with a team-high 22 assists. It was her fourth straight appearance with 20+ assists and her ninth time reaching 20 helpers in conference play
Anastasiia Nikolnikova had an efficient hitting night with six kills on 11 swings. The junior's .455 hitting percentage extended her streak of matches with a percentage above .300 to three straight. She also had four blocks, just one short of Sierzant's team high.
Ava Palm and Sydnie Waller paced the Orange with seven kills each. It was Waller's fifth time this season racking up five or more kills and the second to come her last three appearances. She hit .208 on the night.
Palm also led the team with nine digs, falling just one short of a seventh double-digit dig effort this season.
Greta Schlichter had seven digs and Syracuse's lone ace.
Freshman Pola Bujnarowska entered the match in the third set and delivered three blocks. It was her first appearance since Oct. 6 against No. 1 Pittsburgh.
Zharia Harris-Waddy, Sara Wasiakowska and Waller all had two rejections, bringing Syracuse's total to six players with multiple denials.
This was Syracuse's 11^th match this season with double-digit blocks as a team, six of which have come against ACC opponents.
'Cuse won the battle of blocks, 10.5-4.
The Orange swung at a .235 clip in the third set, their best percentage of the match.
With the loss, Syracuse drops to 0-6 on the season against top 25 opponents. All six losses have come in ACC play.

Up Next
The Orange will make their second appearance on ACC Network this season on Sunday against Clemson. The match at Jervey Gym is scheduled to begin at noon.

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