Sunday, September 22
Syracuse, NY
2 p.m.
Syracuse University
12-0,0-0ACC
3
vs
1
Cornell
6-3,0-0Ivy League
1
2
3
4
F
Cornell
19
25
19
27
1
Syracuse
25
21
25
29
3
Syracuse Beats Cornell To Finish Non-Conference Play Undefeated
9/22/2024 8:07:00 PM | Volleyball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – After prevailing in its first five-set match in over a year on Saturday, the Syracuse University volleyball team (12-0) found itself trailing Cornell by as many as seven points in the fourth set of Sunday's contest at the Women's Building. However, the Orange found a way to turn the tide and avoid a fifth, as 'Cuse completed a dramatic fourth-set comeback to clinch the victory.
Syracuse and Cornell split the opening two frames before 'Cuse won the final two. With the victory, the undefeated Orange finished the Syracuse Invitational 3-0 and completed a perfect non-conference slate. Syracuse will enter ACC play next weekend at 12-0.
The Orange are one of seven undefeated teams in Division I as of Sept. 22. No. 1 Pittsburgh is the only other remaining undefeated team in the ACC.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Syracuse fell behind early before a 6-1 scoring run fueled by two Sydney Moore kills put the Orange in front 12-8. Ava Palm helped 'Cuse stretch its lead later in the set, as she converted on four kills in seven points to put the Orange ahead 20-15. The Big Red pulled back within three at 22-19, but a Klara Zarnovicka kill, a Cornell attack error and an Anastasiia Nikolnikova kill polished off a 25-19 win for Syracuse.
Cornell responded in the second set by winning seven of the first 10 points. The Big Red went ahead 12-5 before Syracuse won four straight behind kills from Moore and Nikolnikova and a Mira Ledermueller ace. Veronica Sierzant took over the setting duties for 'Cuse midway through the set, and a late 6-1 run brought the Orange back within two. However, the Big Red closed out a 25-21 victory with a kill.
The Orange jumped out to a 10-5 lead in the third, a scoring run that included one ace a piece from Ashlee Gnau, Skylar George and Sierzant. Cornell clawed back to make the score 14-12 before 'Cuse won five of the next six points, a stretch capped off by consecutive kills from Palm and Nikolnikova. Neither team won more than two straight points the remainder of the frame, and the Orange closed out the set by winning the final two points via a Nikolnikova kill and a Cornell attack error.
The Big Red came back strong in the fourth, establishing an early 9-3 advantage. Syracuse worked its way back into the set, but Cornell went on to build a seven-point lead at 20-13. A Palm kill got Syracuse a much-needed side out and sparked a 4-0 Syracuse scoring stretch that trimmed the deficit to three. Trailing 23-21, Syracuse tied the score behind consecutive Nikolnikova kills. After Cornell won the next point, the Orange saved a set point thanks to a Sierzant kill on the second touch. Another Palm kill gave Syracuse a match point, but Cornell saved it with a kill of its own. Moore put down a kill to set up another match point for 'Cuse, but the Big Red again erased it and tied the score at 27-27. Palm recorded another kill to set up a third chance for Syracuse to close out the win, and this time, the Orange took it off a Cornell attack error. The 29-27 comeback effort secured a four-set Syracuse victory.
NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS
SYRACUSE INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Ava Palm, Syracuse (Tournament MVP)
Anastasiia Nikolnikova, Syracuse
Sydney Moore, Syracuse
Brooke Menke, Le Moyne
Lily Wacholz, Iowa State
Haley Clark, Cornell
Mackenzie Parsons, Cornell
UP NEXT
Syracuse begins ACC play next weekend with a pair of road matches in North Carolina. The Orange will open against North Carolina on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. before facing Duke on Sept. 29 at 1 p.m. Both matches will be streamed on ACCNX.
For the latest news on the Syracuse volleyball program, follow /CuseVB on Facebook, @CuseVB on Instagram, and @CuseVB on X/Twitter.
Syracuse and Cornell split the opening two frames before 'Cuse won the final two. With the victory, the undefeated Orange finished the Syracuse Invitational 3-0 and completed a perfect non-conference slate. Syracuse will enter ACC play next weekend at 12-0.
The Orange are one of seven undefeated teams in Division I as of Sept. 22. No. 1 Pittsburgh is the only other remaining undefeated team in the ACC.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Syracuse fell behind early before a 6-1 scoring run fueled by two Sydney Moore kills put the Orange in front 12-8. Ava Palm helped 'Cuse stretch its lead later in the set, as she converted on four kills in seven points to put the Orange ahead 20-15. The Big Red pulled back within three at 22-19, but a Klara Zarnovicka kill, a Cornell attack error and an Anastasiia Nikolnikova kill polished off a 25-19 win for Syracuse.
Cornell responded in the second set by winning seven of the first 10 points. The Big Red went ahead 12-5 before Syracuse won four straight behind kills from Moore and Nikolnikova and a Mira Ledermueller ace. Veronica Sierzant took over the setting duties for 'Cuse midway through the set, and a late 6-1 run brought the Orange back within two. However, the Big Red closed out a 25-21 victory with a kill.
The Orange jumped out to a 10-5 lead in the third, a scoring run that included one ace a piece from Ashlee Gnau, Skylar George and Sierzant. Cornell clawed back to make the score 14-12 before 'Cuse won five of the next six points, a stretch capped off by consecutive kills from Palm and Nikolnikova. Neither team won more than two straight points the remainder of the frame, and the Orange closed out the set by winning the final two points via a Nikolnikova kill and a Cornell attack error.
The Big Red came back strong in the fourth, establishing an early 9-3 advantage. Syracuse worked its way back into the set, but Cornell went on to build a seven-point lead at 20-13. A Palm kill got Syracuse a much-needed side out and sparked a 4-0 Syracuse scoring stretch that trimmed the deficit to three. Trailing 23-21, Syracuse tied the score behind consecutive Nikolnikova kills. After Cornell won the next point, the Orange saved a set point thanks to a Sierzant kill on the second touch. Another Palm kill gave Syracuse a match point, but Cornell saved it with a kill of its own. Moore put down a kill to set up another match point for 'Cuse, but the Big Red again erased it and tied the score at 27-27. Palm recorded another kill to set up a third chance for Syracuse to close out the win, and this time, the Orange took it off a Cornell attack error. The 29-27 comeback effort secured a four-set Syracuse victory.
NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS
- Ava Palm had one of her most efficient offensive days of the season Sunday, as the graduate student finished with 16 kills on 34 swings to pace the Orange. She earned Syracuse Invitational MVP honors after tallying 16 kills in each of the last two matches. She also came just one dig shy of a second consecutive double-double and hit two aces to finish the tournament with 10.
- In addition to Palm, Anastasiia Nikolnikova and Sydney Moore also earned All-Tournament honors for their efforts during the Syracuse Invitational. Nikolnikova had 10 kills on 18 swings Sunday, her third straight match with double-digit kills. She also put down a season-best eight blocks to lead the team. Moore posted nine kills and three blocks against her former team.
- For the second straight match, Klara Zarnovicka reached double-digit kills, as the senior captain had 10 on 22 attacks to go along with four blocks.
- Veronica Sierzant led the Orange with 27 assists while also putting down four kills on five attempts. Mira Ledermueller also had 17 assists.
- The Orange finished with 12 blocks, marking their fifth double-digit blocking effort of the season.
- Seven Syracuse players hit at least one ace, as the team finished with nine in the match.
- Syracuse has now saved set points in four sets it has gone on to win, as the Orange saved one set point in the fourth against the Big Red before coming out victorious.
- This is the first time Syracuse has finished non-conference play undefeated since 2010.
SYRACUSE INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Ava Palm, Syracuse (Tournament MVP)
Anastasiia Nikolnikova, Syracuse
Sydney Moore, Syracuse
Brooke Menke, Le Moyne
Lily Wacholz, Iowa State
Haley Clark, Cornell
Mackenzie Parsons, Cornell
UP NEXT
Syracuse begins ACC play next weekend with a pair of road matches in North Carolina. The Orange will open against North Carolina on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. before facing Duke on Sept. 29 at 1 p.m. Both matches will be streamed on ACCNX.
For the latest news on the Syracuse volleyball program, follow /CuseVB on Facebook, @CuseVB on Instagram, and @CuseVB on X/Twitter.
Team Stats
CU
SU
Kills
60
53
Errors
27
19
Attempts
138
130
Hitting %
.239
.262
Points
74.0
74.0
Assists
57
50
Aces
6
9
Blocks
8
12
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
10
Aces
1
Blocks
8
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballMB
/ Volleyball
S
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