Volleyball: Blue Devils Beat Orange 3-1

Story and photos by Kelsey Snider

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -  Syracuse Orange Volleyball took on the University of Duke Blue Devils Sunday afternoon in the Women’s Building looking for another win after beating Wake Forest on Friday.

But the Blue Devils (16-6, 10-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) beat the Orange (6-16, 5-7 ACC) three sets to one.

“I just think we played a more disciplined team,” said Syracuse’s sophomore middle blocker Santita Ebangwese.  “The mistakes we made on Friday we couldn’t make today and we did and therefore it resulted in a loss.”

Set 1:

It was back and forth for the start of set one. The Orange and the Blue Devils were tied at 4-4.

Duke then got on a six-point run and started to pull away from Syracuse. The score was 10-5.

Syracuse continued to give up point runs, and Duke went on another four-point run further pulling away from the Orange making the score 16-10.

Syracuse tried to stay in the game, but Duke kept getting kills and went on another four-point run and

the Blue Devils took set one handily at 25-15.

Set 2:

It was a slow start for both the Orange and the Blue Devils in set two.

The set started off with two unforced errors by Syracuse – a passing error followed by an unforced hitting error.

Duke took the lead, but Syracuse stayed close not letting the Blue Devils get more than three points ahead and the Orange tied up the score at 9-9, then went on to take the lead with three kills in a row, which brought the score to 13-10.

The Blue Devils didn’t let that affect them and stayed close to the Orange. Duke tied the score at 20-20.

Syracuse took the lead back with three of the five points being kills from junior setter Jalissa Trotter.

Trotter had a total of eight kills in the match with a hitting percentage of .304.

“I just try to stay aggressive regardless of what position I’m playing, whether coach is wanting me to set, play defense,” Trotter said. “I just try to be aggressive that’s the only thing. I just go for it.”

Even with the lower hitting percentage, the Orange held off the Blue Devils taking the second set 25-23 and evening the match.

Set 3:

After losing set two, the Blue Devils started off  the third strong with a five-point run.

“They were putting much more pressure on us even when it’s not perfect pass,” Syracuse’s head coach Leonid Yelin said. “They still playing so fast offense…it was a lot of pressure on us.”

Syracuse fought back with two blocks back-to-back to come within a point of Duke and from then, the Orange started to get in a groove and tied the score at 8-8 with two kills from the outside and the back row.

The Orange took the lead for the first time in the set at 17-16 and held it until they made two attack errors tying the score at 20-20.

The Blue Devils took that opportunity and went on a four-point run making the score 24-20.

Syracuse got the ball back but Duke got a side out with a kill taking set three 25-21.

Set 4:

Duke again took the lead early in set four and held Syracuse consistently three points behind.

The Blue Devils then started to pull away even farther in the middle of the set at 17-13 and used a four-point run to make it 21-14

Syracuse tried to stay in the match with a returned three-point run getting a couple of kills from the middle making the score 24-20 but it wasn’t enough. The Blue Devils won the set 25-21 and with it the match.

Looking Ahead:

Syracuse will play the Boston College Eagles on Wednesday, Nov. 2, in Chestnut Hill, Mass. at 7:30 pm. Duke will return home to Durham, N.C. to play the University of Louisville Cardinals on Friday, Nov. 4, at 3 p.m..

SU vs DU VB Photos

SYRACUSE. N.Y. - The Duke Blue Devils got the better of the Syracuse Orange Sunday afternoon at the Women's Building gym, winning the volleyball match three sets to one. Here's a look at the match in photos by Kelsey Snider. Click on any picture to start slide show.

Volleyball: Orange beats Demon Deacons 3-2

Story and photos by Kelsey Snider

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Orange Volleyball was back in the Women’s Building Friday evening with a lively crowd as it took on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. It would be a battle for both teams the entire match.

After losing two matches on the road last weekend, the Orange (6-15, 5-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) looking for a win, beat the Demon Deacons (9-13, 5-6 ACC) three sets to two.

However, the Orange players are not satisfied and want more.  

“We need to stay consistent, and we have to continuously talk to each other,” sophomore middle blocker Santita Ebangwese said.

Set 1:

It was a slow start for Wake Forest with unforced hitting errors giving Syracuse momentum to take the lead.

That slow start would not be the determining factor for the rest of the set.

Wake Forest fought back with defense and attacking and tied the set at 11-11. From that point on it was neck and neck for both teams. It wasn’t until the score was 16-16 when the Demon Deacons took the lead for the first time in the set with a four-point run making the score 20-16.

Stopping the run with a stuff block the Orange tied the score back up at 20-20. Head Coach Leonid Yelin said the biggest factor in the win was the team’s blocking.

Syracuse has the chance to win the set at 25-24, but an attack error tied the score back up at 25-25.

Syracuse won the close first set 28-26.

Set 2:

Wake Forest's players kept their heads going into the second set. The Demon Deacons took the lead early with a three point run making the score 8-5.

Syracuse fought to stay in the set, not letting the Demon Deacons get more that a two-point run.

It wasn’t until the score was 17-13 that Wake Forest started to pull away but the Demon Deacons used a four-point run starting at 21-16 to seal the deal.

The defense from both teams remained strong. The Demon Deacons had a total of four blocks and the Orange eight going into the third set.

“Our block did amazing, and our block sets up our defense,” junior libero Belle Sand said. “I can contribute a lot of my digs, like being in the right position based off our block.”

Set 3:

Wake Forest continued the momentum from set two and started off with a six-point lead. Syracuse, however pulled within two points of the Demon Deacons at 8-6.

The Orange kept fighting point by point and after a three point run Syracuse took the lead for the first time in the set at 15-14.

Both teams kept it close for the rest of the match with long rallies. Both teams’ offensive and defensive play was in rhythm.

The defense was starting to frustrate the attackers for both sides as more hitting errors were made. Syracuse had a total of 18 attack errors making the attack percentage .167 going into the fourth set. Wake Forest had a total of 24 making its attack percentage .220.

The Demon Deacons held off the Orange and took the set 25-23.

Set 4:

The Orange was down but not out and after trailing early in the fourth set, took the lead at 9-8. From there it was back and forth the entire set. The Orange pulled away at 20-17 with a quick attack from the middle, but the Demon Deacons closed it to 23-22.

With a chance to earn points, Wake Forest served the ball into the net giving Syracuse match point. Wake Forest got a kill and an ace tying the score to 24-24.

But the Demon Deacons had a miscommunication on the court giving the Orange the set win at 26-24 and the match at 2-2.

Set 5:

The Orange came into the fifth set strong with a three point run and kept the lead at the switch 8-6.
After the switch, the Orange took charge, winning the fifth set 15-8 and the match 3-2.

Wake Forest had no answer for Syracuse’s middle attack, especially by Ebangwese. She led both teams with 16 kills hitting .640 for the night.

“When ‘Tasty’ [Ebangwese] pounds a ball, I think everyone on the team feels her excitement,” Sand said.

Looking Ahead:

The Orange will be back in the Women’s Building on Sunday, October 30^th, at 1pm to play the University of Duke Blue Devils. The Demon Deacons will travel to Chestnut Hill, Mass. to play the Boston College Eagles.