Orange Volleyball Looks to Regroup for Last Half of Conference

Story and photo by Jessica Eley
Syracuse, N.Y. -

The Orange jump up for a block

SU volleyball is no longer winless in the ACC but is still struggling. The team is hoping to improve in a couple of games this weekend

 The Orange fell to 8-13 after losing its eighth conference game to Georgia Tech on the road last Friday and is at the bottom of the ACC.

The team has only won one conference game this season. That was a 3-0 beating of Wake Forest at SU on Oct. 19.

Versus the Yellow Jackets, the Orange was up 2-0 in sets before falling behind 2-3 to lose match. Silvi Uattara had 28 kills on 65 swings and four blocks.

"We're trying to figure out who we can get more from, besides Silvi" head coach Leonid Yelin said.

Uattara has 298 kills on the season, 80 more than the next highest player on the team, and is averaging 3.77 kills per set.

Yelin said it's hard to build consistency with lineups that keep changing. The team has been plagued by injury.

Senior outside hitter, Nicolette Serrate, has been watching from the sidelines all season with a boot on her left foot. The 6'3 redshirt sophomore outside hitter, Valeriya Shaipova, who had been making strides to return to her 100 percent after tearing her ACL last year, hasn't played since Pitt when she exited the match early after her knee began to hurt.

Freshman middle blocker, Leah Levert, suffered a concussion in practice two weeks ago and was unable to play against Louisville and Pitt.

With the former junior outside hitter, Gosia Wlaszczuck's move to setter at the beginning of the season,  Yelin said the Orange lost a huge part of its ball control and front row hitting experience.

"I feel comfortable definitely. in the beginning I was shaking before every game and I had to remind myself that I am playing as setter and focus on it," Wlaszczuck said. "It's still lack of experience, but as of right now I feel more comfortable setting."

Yelin said with players having to move around so much this year, they are mentally in a hole.

Looking Ahead

Wlaszczuck said she is unsatisfied with the season, but hopes to change it around for the last half.

"I feel like we have a better team and we should be higher in the standings of the ACC."Wlaszczuck said. "It's just like we can't overcome ourselves. It's all mental."

The Orange has a chance to redeem itself. Out of the nine matches left, SU has played four of the teams.

Wlaszczuck said at Wednesday's practice, watched video of their first time playing Louisville two weeks ago.

"We're more prepared now, we know what to expect from them," Wlaszczuck said.

The Orange plays Louisville (13-8)  and Pittsburgh (18-3) on the road this weekend.