Syracuse Volleyball Wins First Tournament Match

Story and photo by Lindsey Horsting

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse University women’s volleyball team started the home tournament with a  3-1 win Saturday night against the University of New Hampshire Wildcats at the SU Women's Building gym. 

Winning the fourth set required the team to be mentally tough and a little bit lucky, head coach Leonid Yelin said.

“I think it’s a combination,”  Yelin said.  “Some key players was [mentally tough] on the floor.”

The Orange won the first two handily but the Wildcats battled back in the third set.  New Hampshire used the energy of the Wildcat fans to build momentum and win 25-21. 

Trailing 22-20, SU took a time out in the third in attempt to regain the lead.  The team needed to concentrate on serve receiving and ensure the first pass is settled and let the sets and kills follow, Yelin said.

“I was trying to refocus them and take one thing at a time,” he said.

The fourth set was close all the way with SU and New Hampshire fans and benches cheering.  Sophomore libero (defensive specialist) Belle Sand had four aces on serves and a game high 18 digs on the evening. 

Being mentally strong is critical after losing a third set, and more importantly is starting the fourth set stronger, Sand said.

“We know we can play at a higher level and we know that we can close this [the fourth] set,” she said.     

Seniors Silvi Uattara and Monika Salkute led both teams with 17 kills each, and red shirt senior Nicolette Serratore had 15 kills against the Wildcats.

The Orange 25-13, 25-19, 21-25, 26-24 win improves SU to 7-2 in pre-ACC play.

Match times for the Orange for the rest of tournament play are set for 10 a.m. against Navy and 6:30 p.m. Sunday against Buffalo at the Women’s Building on SU’s campus.