Volleyball: Canes beat Cuse 3-1

Story and photo by Kelsey Snider

SYRACUSE, N.Y. –  It was a quiet night in the Women’s Building when the Syracuse Orange took on the University of Miami Hurricanes.

“We temporarily had energy, and temporarily had the drive to fight,” said Syracuse’s middle blocker Leah Levert.


That energy and drive did not last.

The Hurricanes (12-15, 6-9 Atlantic Coast Conference) beat the Orange (7-18, 6-9 ACC) three sets to one.

Set 1:

It was a slow start for both the Orange and the Hurricanes. It was point here and point there, but neither team seemed to gained control of the game right off the bat.

It was back and forth for most of the set. At any given time in the set, each team was only ahead by a couple of points.

At 20-20, the Canes got a kill from the right side, and then two unforced errors by the Orange put the Canes within two points of winning the set.

“The first set, we were clam and we were disciplined and we did the things we needed to do, but I think we were lacking a spark,” Levert said.  “It was just barely enough to keep us back and forth with them.”

By the sound of the gym from both the crowd and the players, you couldn’t tell who was winning. Neither team showed any enthusiasm.

Miami won the set 25-22.

Set 2:

Miami started to take the momentum of set two from the beginning. The momentum didn’t come from how good the play was, but by energy on the court.

The Orange and the Hurricanes were neck-and-neck for most of the set, but the Hurricanes kept the lead.

With two unforced attack errors and a service error by the Orange, the Hurricanes were up 16-11. The two blocks from Miami put them on a roll earning points.

By the looks on the faces of the Syracuse players, you could tell that they weren’t in sync with each other.

The University of Miami kept pulling away from Syracuse, but not because they were earning points. The Orange kept making unforced errors giving the Hurricanes the win.

Miami took the set 25-16.

Set 3:

The Orange came out of the break ready to play. The players were in better rhythm with each other. They were getting blocks and kills and making defensive plays.

Miami seemed to be pushed back against a wall. The Hurricanes communication broke down putting the Orange ahead 17-13.

“Miami was so focused for two games, and they just got a little bit dull and we used this,” Syracuse head coach Leonid Yelin said.

The Orange kept pushing ahead. Syracuse’s outside hitter, Anastasiya Gorelina, got four big kills give the Orange a six-point lead 21-14.

The Hurricanes couldn’t stop the Orange’s run, and Syracuse went on the win the set 25-15.

Set 4:

Miami not letting the loss of set three affect the level of play, came out with an ace to earn the first point.

However, the Orange continued its spark from set three and wouldn’t let the Hurricanes get far ahead. In fact, Syracuse took the lead at 9-8 after an attack error from the Miami.

Both Syracuse and Miami went back and forth with the lead.

Coming out of a 22-19 timeout the Miami Hurricanes sealed the deal with an attack error from Syracuse, then an overpass kill, and a stuff block that went straight down into the laps of the Orange.

The Hurricanes won the fourth set 25-19.

Looking Ahead:

The Hurricanes will go to Chestnut Hill, Mass. to play the Boston College Eagles on Sunday, November 13, at noon.

The Orange will be back in the Women’s Building on Sunday, November 13, at 1 p.m. to take on the No. 13 ranked Florida State Seminoles.