Thursday, September 19
Syracuse, NY
6 p.m.
Syracuse University
vs
Le Moyne
Volleyball Returns Home To Host Syracuse Invitational
9/18/2024 12:39:00 PM | Volleyball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Coming off a pair of tournament sweeps at Columbia and Siena, the Syracuse University volleyball team (9-0) returns home this weekend to host the Syracuse Invitational at the Women's Building from Sept. 19-22.
The Orange will play three matches at the event, beginning with their first ever meeting with Salt City counterpart Le Moyne on Thursday at 6 p.m. Syracuse will also face Iowa State on Saturday at 1 p.m. before closing the tournament against Cornell on Sunday at 2 p.m. All three contests will be streamed live on ACCNX.
Unbeaten Orange
At 9-0, Syracuse is off to its best start as a program since 2010 (17-0). The nine wins are tied for the most in the country.
Syracuse is one of 16 remaining unbeaten teams in the country and one of three undefeated ACC teams left in non-conference play, along with Stanford and Pittsburgh.
The Orange went 3-0 at last weekend's Siena Saints Invitational with straight-set wins over Siena, NJIT and Idaho. Syracuse saved four set points against Siena and NJIT, all coming in the first sets. The Orange rallied from 10 points down in the first to steal the frame from the Saints. Syracuse improved to 27-3 on the season in total sets after going 9-0 in sets at Siena.
'Cuse has also gone 3-0 at both the Salt City Classic and Big Apple Tournament to open the season.
Air Ava
Graduate transfer Ava Palm has led the Orange in kills in all three of the team's tournaments this season and has a team-high 118 on the season.
Palm earned All-Tournament Team honors at the Siena Saints Invitational last weekend after averaging a team-best 4.0 kills per set. She tallied 16 kills in 'Cuse's final match of the event against Idaho and came within one dig of a double-double against NJIT. She also earned MVP honors at the Salt City Classic in August.
Palm has led the Orange in kills in all but two matches this season and has tallied double-digit kills in all but one contest. Through the opening three weeks of the season, Palm's 3.93 kills per set rank No. 6 in the ACC. Palm has the third most kills in the ACC.
Block Party
The Syracuse front line has been a force throughout the opening three tournaments of the season, as the Orange currently rank No. 6 in the ACC in blocks per set (2.72).
Syracuse has at least nine blocks in five of its nine matches this season and has notched double-digit rejections on three occasions.
Sydney Moore leads the team with 34 blocks and Anastasiia Nikolnikova is pacing the Orange with 1.50 blocks per set. In addition to Moore and Nikolnikova, Ava Palm has also surpassed 20 blocks (21) and Sara Wasiakowska is just one away from the mark with 19.
Spreading the Wealth
Mira Ledermueller and Veronica Sierzant have been a steady tandem at setter this season for the Orange.
Ledermueller has made five starts this season, all coming in the team's last six contests. The sophomore has tallied 25+ assists in all five starts, which included a pair of double-doubles at the Big Apple Tournament against Fordham and Manhattan.
At the Siena Saints Tournament, Ledermueller racked up 27 assists in each of the team's wins against NJIT and Idaho and came within one dig of another double-double against the Highlanders. Ledermueller currently leads the Orange with 175 assists and sits No. 7 in the ACC in assists per set with 8.75.
Sierzant has made three starts this season and also has at least 25 assists in all of those efforts. She posted 28 assists in her start against Siena last weekend.
Sky Money
Skylar George has created a dynamic duo with fellow outside Ava Palm so far in 2024. For the second time this season, George paced the Orange with a career-high 19 kills in the team's victory against Siena. She tied Palm's 19 kills against Fordham for the most by a Syracuse player in a match this season.
Against NJIT, George reached double-digit digs for the third time this season, as her 12 against the Highlanders also led the Orange. George has posted double-digit kills in four of Syracuse's last six matches. She also has a pair of double-doubles this season against Lafayette and Manhattan.
The outside hitter is currently second on the team in kills (85) and her 2.93 kills per set trail only Palm for the most on the Orange. George's serve has also been a weapon this season, as she is tied with Sara Wasiakowska for the most aces on the team (13).
In addition to her offensive prowess, George has been consistent defensively as well, as her 60 digs trail only libero Emma Ortiz among 'Cuse players. The sophomore also has 13 blocks on the campaign.
We Want Moore
Last weekend, Sydney Moore made her second All-Tournament Team of the season, adding the honor from the Siena Saints Invitational to the one she earned earlier at the Salt City Classic.
Moore's 34 blocks lead the Orange this season. Moore is one of just two 'Cuse players averaging over a block per set, along with Anastasiia Nikolnikova.
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. Through the opening three weeks of the season, Moore is No. 2 in the ACC in hitting percentage (.458). Her 60 kills are the third most on the team. Moore hit .700 in Syracuse's last match against Idaho on 10 attacks, marking her second performance of the season with at least a .700 hitting percentage.
Through Syracuse's first three tournaments this season, Moore is one of just three Orange players to appear in all 30 of the team's sets, along with Emma Ortiz and Ava Palm.
Efficient Offense
Syracuse's offense has been efficient through the opening three tournaments of the season. The Orange currently rank No. 7 in the ACC in hitting percentage (.272) while averaging 13.30 kills per set.
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, a stretch that started with the team's season opener against NJIT and extended through 'Cuse's match against Columbia.
'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, Syracuse hit .376, its best in a match as a team since hitting .398 against South Alabama on Sept. 19, 2021.
Syracuse's 51 kills Siena were the most for the team in a three-set match since Nov. 24, 2022, when the Orange had 48 in a win at NC State. The Orange hit over .300 for a fifth time this season against Siena, as 'Cuse finished the match with a .320 hitting percentage. Syracuse's 51 kills against the Saints were just one shy of a team high this season.
Coming Up Aces
No team in the ACC has hit more aces in 2024 than the Orange. Syracuse's 69 aces this season are seven more than the second-place team in the ACC. 'Cuse's 2.30 aces per set trail only Pittsburgh in the conference.
Sara Wasiakowska and Skylar George are tied for a team-best 13 aces this season. Anastasiia Nikolnikova leads the Orange with 0.61 aces per set, which ranks No. 5 in the ACC.
The Orange have hit double-digit aces three times this season, including in two contests at the Big Apple Tournament against Fordham (13) and Manhattan (15). Syracuse has at least five aces in every match but two this season.
Scouting the Syracuse Invitational
Le Moyne enters the Syracuse Invitational with a 1-5 record on the season after competing in the Salt City Classic and Penn Invitational. Their lone victory on the campaign came against Morgan State, a 3-2 triumph at the Penn invitational. Jordyn Hamlin (54) and Branwyn Lupton (45) lead the Dolphins in kills this season. Haley Gerken has been Le Moyne's primary setter and has a team-high 120 assists. She registered a double-double in the team's win over Morgan State with 15 assists and 11 digs. Three Le Moyne players have at least 40 digs so far this season - Brooke Menke (49), Gerken (42) and Hamlin (40). Kayla Anstett leads the Dolphins with 10 blocks.
The Dolphins are led by second-year head coach Susan Kim,
Syracuse Series vs. Le Moyne | First Meeting
Iowa State is 5-4 on the season after completing a 1-2 weekend at the South Dakota Classic. The Cyclones defeated Montana State but fell to UTEP and South Dakota. They will take on Colgate on Thursday before playing Syracuse on Saturday. The Cyclones have wins over a pair of power four opponents this season - Iowa and Wake Forest. They also lost a tight five-setter against Big Ten foe Illinois.
Nayeli Gonzalez is leading Iowa State with 109 kills (3.30/set) this season. Maya Duckworth is second on the team with 87 kills. Morgan Brandt is the top setter for the Cyclones with 355 assists on the season (9.86/set). She has a pair of double-doubles on the season against Pacific and Illinois. Defensively, Rachel Van Gorp is pacing Iowa State with 140 digs (3.76/set) and Pam McCune has the most blocks on the team with 34.
Christy Johnson-Lynch is in her 20th season at the helm of the Cyclones.
Syracuse Series vs. Iowa State | Syracuse leads, 3-2 | Last meeting: L 2-3, Sept. 10, 2021
Cornell holds a 4-2 record heading into this weekend's event. The Big Red went 2-1 in their first two tournaments of the season and have won their last two matches against Valparaiso and Miami (OH). They will face Binghamton on Wednesday and Le Moyne on Friday before facing 'Cuse on Sunday.
Eliza Konvicka leads Cornell and ranks No. 4 in the Ivy League with 85 kills (3.86/set). She also leads the team with 50 digs. Doga Ozalp is currently atop the Ivy in assists per set with 9.36. Camryn Carlo and Mackenzie Parsons are tied for the team lead with 27 blocks this season. They are both tied for second in the Ivy League in blocks.
Current Syracuse player Sydney Moore spent the first four seasons of her career playing for Cornell. She made 39 starts for the Big Red and squared off against the Orange last season.
The Big Red is led by 10th year head coach Trudy Vande Berg.
Syracuse Series vs. Cornell | Syracuse leads, 34-9-1 | Last meeting: W 3-1, Sept. 6, 2023
Promotions and Match Themes
Thursday night's match will be Syracuse's Dorm Storm Night, in which all on-campus student residents are invited to attend. Saturday's match against Iowa State will be 'Cuse's White Out, all attendees are encouraged to wear white. Sunday's match against Cornell will be Syracuse's SAAC Night.
Syracuse vs. Le Moyne Briefing
Match Details: Sept. 19, 2024 | Syracuse, N.Y. | Women's Building | 6 p.m.
Live Video: ACCNX
Live Coverage: Stats
Twitter: @CuseVB
Instagram: @cusevb
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
Le Moyne Links: Roster | Schedule
Syracuse vs. Iowa State Briefing
Match Details: Sept. 21, 2024 | Syracuse, N.Y. | Women's Building | 1 p.m.
Live Video: ACCNX
Live Coverage: Stats
Twitter: @CuseVB
Instagram: @cusevb
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
Iowa State Links: Roster | Schedule
Syracuse vs. Cornell Briefing
Match Details: Sept. 22, 2024 | Syracuse, N.Y. | Women's Building | 2 p.m.
Live Video: ACCNX
Live Coverage: Stats
Twitter: @CuseVB
Instagram: @cusevb
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
Cornell Links: Roster | Schedule
Up Next
Syracuse kicks off ACC play next weekend with a trip to Tobacco Road. The Orange will face North Carolina on Sept. 27 before traveling to Durham for a Sept. 29 clash with Duke.
For the latest news on the Syracuse volleyball program, follow /CuseVB on Facebook, @CuseVB on Instagram, and @CuseVB on X/Twitter.
The Orange will play three matches at the event, beginning with their first ever meeting with Salt City counterpart Le Moyne on Thursday at 6 p.m. Syracuse will also face Iowa State on Saturday at 1 p.m. before closing the tournament against Cornell on Sunday at 2 p.m. All three contests will be streamed live on ACCNX.
Unbeaten Orange
At 9-0, Syracuse is off to its best start as a program since 2010 (17-0). The nine wins are tied for the most in the country.
Syracuse is one of 16 remaining unbeaten teams in the country and one of three undefeated ACC teams left in non-conference play, along with Stanford and Pittsburgh.
The Orange went 3-0 at last weekend's Siena Saints Invitational with straight-set wins over Siena, NJIT and Idaho. Syracuse saved four set points against Siena and NJIT, all coming in the first sets. The Orange rallied from 10 points down in the first to steal the frame from the Saints. Syracuse improved to 27-3 on the season in total sets after going 9-0 in sets at Siena.
'Cuse has also gone 3-0 at both the Salt City Classic and Big Apple Tournament to open the season.
Air Ava
Graduate transfer Ava Palm has led the Orange in kills in all three of the team's tournaments this season and has a team-high 118 on the season.
Palm earned All-Tournament Team honors at the Siena Saints Invitational last weekend after averaging a team-best 4.0 kills per set. She tallied 16 kills in 'Cuse's final match of the event against Idaho and came within one dig of a double-double against NJIT. She also earned MVP honors at the Salt City Classic in August.
Palm has led the Orange in kills in all but two matches this season and has tallied double-digit kills in all but one contest. Through the opening three weeks of the season, Palm's 3.93 kills per set rank No. 6 in the ACC. Palm has the third most kills in the ACC.
Block Party
The Syracuse front line has been a force throughout the opening three tournaments of the season, as the Orange currently rank No. 6 in the ACC in blocks per set (2.72).
Syracuse has at least nine blocks in five of its nine matches this season and has notched double-digit rejections on three occasions.
Sydney Moore leads the team with 34 blocks and Anastasiia Nikolnikova is pacing the Orange with 1.50 blocks per set. In addition to Moore and Nikolnikova, Ava Palm has also surpassed 20 blocks (21) and Sara Wasiakowska is just one away from the mark with 19.
Spreading the Wealth
Mira Ledermueller and Veronica Sierzant have been a steady tandem at setter this season for the Orange.
Ledermueller has made five starts this season, all coming in the team's last six contests. The sophomore has tallied 25+ assists in all five starts, which included a pair of double-doubles at the Big Apple Tournament against Fordham and Manhattan.
At the Siena Saints Tournament, Ledermueller racked up 27 assists in each of the team's wins against NJIT and Idaho and came within one dig of another double-double against the Highlanders. Ledermueller currently leads the Orange with 175 assists and sits No. 7 in the ACC in assists per set with 8.75.
Sierzant has made three starts this season and also has at least 25 assists in all of those efforts. She posted 28 assists in her start against Siena last weekend.
Sky Money
Skylar George has created a dynamic duo with fellow outside Ava Palm so far in 2024. For the second time this season, George paced the Orange with a career-high 19 kills in the team's victory against Siena. She tied Palm's 19 kills against Fordham for the most by a Syracuse player in a match this season.
Against NJIT, George reached double-digit digs for the third time this season, as her 12 against the Highlanders also led the Orange. George has posted double-digit kills in four of Syracuse's last six matches. She also has a pair of double-doubles this season against Lafayette and Manhattan.
The outside hitter is currently second on the team in kills (85) and her 2.93 kills per set trail only Palm for the most on the Orange. George's serve has also been a weapon this season, as she is tied with Sara Wasiakowska for the most aces on the team (13).
In addition to her offensive prowess, George has been consistent defensively as well, as her 60 digs trail only libero Emma Ortiz among 'Cuse players. The sophomore also has 13 blocks on the campaign.
We Want Moore
Last weekend, Sydney Moore made her second All-Tournament Team of the season, adding the honor from the Siena Saints Invitational to the one she earned earlier at the Salt City Classic.
Moore's 34 blocks lead the Orange this season. Moore is one of just two 'Cuse players averaging over a block per set, along with Anastasiia Nikolnikova.
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. Through the opening three weeks of the season, Moore is No. 2 in the ACC in hitting percentage (.458). Her 60 kills are the third most on the team. Moore hit .700 in Syracuse's last match against Idaho on 10 attacks, marking her second performance of the season with at least a .700 hitting percentage.
Through Syracuse's first three tournaments this season, Moore is one of just three Orange players to appear in all 30 of the team's sets, along with Emma Ortiz and Ava Palm.
Efficient Offense
Syracuse's offense has been efficient through the opening three tournaments of the season. The Orange currently rank No. 7 in the ACC in hitting percentage (.272) while averaging 13.30 kills per set.
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, a stretch that started with the team's season opener against NJIT and extended through 'Cuse's match against Columbia.
'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, Syracuse hit .376, its best in a match as a team since hitting .398 against South Alabama on Sept. 19, 2021.
Syracuse's 51 kills Siena were the most for the team in a three-set match since Nov. 24, 2022, when the Orange had 48 in a win at NC State. The Orange hit over .300 for a fifth time this season against Siena, as 'Cuse finished the match with a .320 hitting percentage. Syracuse's 51 kills against the Saints were just one shy of a team high this season.
Coming Up Aces
No team in the ACC has hit more aces in 2024 than the Orange. Syracuse's 69 aces this season are seven more than the second-place team in the ACC. 'Cuse's 2.30 aces per set trail only Pittsburgh in the conference.
Sara Wasiakowska and Skylar George are tied for a team-best 13 aces this season. Anastasiia Nikolnikova leads the Orange with 0.61 aces per set, which ranks No. 5 in the ACC.
The Orange have hit double-digit aces three times this season, including in two contests at the Big Apple Tournament against Fordham (13) and Manhattan (15). Syracuse has at least five aces in every match but two this season.
Scouting the Syracuse Invitational
Le Moyne enters the Syracuse Invitational with a 1-5 record on the season after competing in the Salt City Classic and Penn Invitational. Their lone victory on the campaign came against Morgan State, a 3-2 triumph at the Penn invitational. Jordyn Hamlin (54) and Branwyn Lupton (45) lead the Dolphins in kills this season. Haley Gerken has been Le Moyne's primary setter and has a team-high 120 assists. She registered a double-double in the team's win over Morgan State with 15 assists and 11 digs. Three Le Moyne players have at least 40 digs so far this season - Brooke Menke (49), Gerken (42) and Hamlin (40). Kayla Anstett leads the Dolphins with 10 blocks.
The Dolphins are led by second-year head coach Susan Kim,
Syracuse Series vs. Le Moyne | First Meeting
Iowa State is 5-4 on the season after completing a 1-2 weekend at the South Dakota Classic. The Cyclones defeated Montana State but fell to UTEP and South Dakota. They will take on Colgate on Thursday before playing Syracuse on Saturday. The Cyclones have wins over a pair of power four opponents this season - Iowa and Wake Forest. They also lost a tight five-setter against Big Ten foe Illinois.
Nayeli Gonzalez is leading Iowa State with 109 kills (3.30/set) this season. Maya Duckworth is second on the team with 87 kills. Morgan Brandt is the top setter for the Cyclones with 355 assists on the season (9.86/set). She has a pair of double-doubles on the season against Pacific and Illinois. Defensively, Rachel Van Gorp is pacing Iowa State with 140 digs (3.76/set) and Pam McCune has the most blocks on the team with 34.
Christy Johnson-Lynch is in her 20th season at the helm of the Cyclones.
Syracuse Series vs. Iowa State | Syracuse leads, 3-2 | Last meeting: L 2-3, Sept. 10, 2021
Cornell holds a 4-2 record heading into this weekend's event. The Big Red went 2-1 in their first two tournaments of the season and have won their last two matches against Valparaiso and Miami (OH). They will face Binghamton on Wednesday and Le Moyne on Friday before facing 'Cuse on Sunday.
Eliza Konvicka leads Cornell and ranks No. 4 in the Ivy League with 85 kills (3.86/set). She also leads the team with 50 digs. Doga Ozalp is currently atop the Ivy in assists per set with 9.36. Camryn Carlo and Mackenzie Parsons are tied for the team lead with 27 blocks this season. They are both tied for second in the Ivy League in blocks.
Current Syracuse player Sydney Moore spent the first four seasons of her career playing for Cornell. She made 39 starts for the Big Red and squared off against the Orange last season.
The Big Red is led by 10th year head coach Trudy Vande Berg.
Syracuse Series vs. Cornell | Syracuse leads, 34-9-1 | Last meeting: W 3-1, Sept. 6, 2023
Promotions and Match Themes
Thursday night's match will be Syracuse's Dorm Storm Night, in which all on-campus student residents are invited to attend. Saturday's match against Iowa State will be 'Cuse's White Out, all attendees are encouraged to wear white. Sunday's match against Cornell will be Syracuse's SAAC Night.
Syracuse vs. Le Moyne Briefing
Match Details: Sept. 19, 2024 | Syracuse, N.Y. | Women's Building | 6 p.m.
Live Video: ACCNX
Live Coverage: Stats
Twitter: @CuseVB
Instagram: @cusevb
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
Le Moyne Links: Roster | Schedule
Syracuse vs. Iowa State Briefing
Match Details: Sept. 21, 2024 | Syracuse, N.Y. | Women's Building | 1 p.m.
Live Video: ACCNX
Live Coverage: Stats
Twitter: @CuseVB
Instagram: @cusevb
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
Iowa State Links: Roster | Schedule
Syracuse vs. Cornell Briefing
Match Details: Sept. 22, 2024 | Syracuse, N.Y. | Women's Building | 2 p.m.
Live Video: ACCNX
Live Coverage: Stats
Twitter: @CuseVB
Instagram: @cusevb
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
Cornell Links: Roster | Schedule
Up Next
Syracuse kicks off ACC play next weekend with a trip to Tobacco Road. The Orange will face North Carolina on Sept. 27 before traveling to Durham for a Sept. 29 clash with Duke.
For the latest news on the Syracuse volleyball program, follow /CuseVB on Facebook, @CuseVB on Instagram, and @CuseVB on X/Twitter.
Players Mentioned
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/ VolleyballSyracuse Volleyball
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