Volleyball: Syracuse Falls to Colgate

Story and photo by Kelsey Snider

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – From the sound pouring out of the Women’s Building, you could tell volleyball was back in action for their season opening weekend.

On Sunday, the Syracuse women’s volleyball team fell to Colgate (1-3) in an intense four-set match making the Orange record 0-2. Syracuse won the first set 25-18, and looked strong coming into the next three sets, but just couldn’t hold it (22-25, 23-25, 22-25).

"It's a lack of confidence," head coach Leonid Yelin told Cuse.com http://cuse.com/news/2016/8/28/volleyball-first-set-surge-not-enough-in-home-loss-to-colgate.aspx
"It's a game of momentum. It happens to much better teams, but they can respond much faster back. That's why I'm saying lack of experience, and based off of that, we start losing our confidence.

"We were responding a little bit late. Giving up more than a couple points puts us in a situation where we're deep in a hole and have to dig ourselves out. That definitely did not help us. We are painfully learning to stay focused. We lose and now we get ready to play."

Even though SU led in points, with outside Mackenzie Weaver leading the team with 20.5 points, and blocking led by middle blocker Amber Witherspoon, with six blocks, it was the SU offense that became its downfall. The Orange trailed the Raiders in kills, assists and hitting efficiency.

On Friday, September 2, the Orange will take on the Oregon State Beavers in Lincoln, Nebraska at the Nebraska Invite.

Volleyball will be back at home in the Women’s Building on Friday, Sept. 9, where Syracuse will play against Hofstra at 1 p.m. in the Syracuse Tournament.