Volleyball Opens Season with Dominant 3-0 Sweep of Niagara

Friday, August 29

Syracuse, NY

7:00 PM

Syracuse University

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Niagara

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Niagara

Syracuse

Volleyball Opens Season with Dominant 3-0 Sweep of Niagara

8/29/2025 10:19:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse University Volleyball team (1-0) got its season started on the right foot on Friday afternoon, sweeping the Niagara Purple Eagles, 3-0, in the season opener.

Senior Gabby McLaughlin led the way in her Orange debut, leading the offense with 11 kills to go along with two block assists. McLaughlin also notched her 1,000^th career kill in the win. Junior Zharia Harris-Waddy was a force at the net, offensively and defensively, posting 10 kills to go along with a team-high four block assists.

Syracuse had a strong defensive showing in the season opener, posting seven team blocks while holding the Purple Eagles to a .089 hitting percentage.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Orange were seemingly in control the entire match on Friday evening. The Purple Eagles took a lead early in the opening set, 2-1, but the Orange would not trail again in the frame. The Orange survived a late push from the Purple Eagles coasted to a 25-19 victory in the opening set.

The two squads traded blows in a much closer start to the second set, with each side sitting at nine points apiece after a back-and-forth start. Syracuse went on a brief run to take a 14-11 lead before Niagara stormed back with four straight points to take a 15-14 lead. However, Harris-Waddy had plans of her own, as she racked up four kills and had the set-clinching block over the final nine rallies. The Orange also took this set by a score of 25-19.

The final set required a comeback from the Orange after they found themselves trailing 15-11. It was a group effort to climb out of the hole, with five different members of the Syracuse offense recording a kill over the final 14-7 run to secure a win. Junior setter Veronica Sierzant earned the match-winner, finding an opening in the Niagara defense to put the finishing touches on a Syracuse sweep.

NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS

Gabby McLaughlin recorded 11 kills and two blocks in her Orange debut, reaching the 1,000 career kills mark in the process.
Zharia Harris-Waddy was a force, posting four blocks and 10 kills on the night. Harris-Waddy also posted a dazzling .476 hitting percentage in the win.
Soana Lea'ea had a strong night in her debut, recording six kills on 13 attacks, good for a .385 hitting percentage.
Emma Ortiz notched two service aces in the victory.
Veronica Sierzant took advantage of her opportunities, recording three kills in as many attempts, including the match-clinching point.
Marie Laurio and Elizabeth Turner made their collegiate debuts, both posting four kills.
Rana Yamada served as the libero for Syracuse, posting eight digs in her debut with the Orange.
The Orange held the Niagara Purple Eagles to a .089 hitting percentage in the win.
The Orange as a collective posted a .237 hitting percentage.
The win marks back-to-back seasons the Orange won their season opener.

UP NEXT
The Orange will be back in the Women's Building tomorrow evening when they take on the Rider Broncs at 5 PM.

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