Syracuse volleyball remains perfect three weeks into the season
By Josh Solomon | @JoshSolo29
After last season’s 2-26 record for Syracuse volleyball, each win this year just gets more surprising. But the past isn’t even close to what’s on the mindset for the Orange at this point. After almost a month into the regular season, SU is riding a nine-game winning streak and is still undefeated. The ‘Cuse haven’t had a better start to their season since 2010. That year, Syracuse won its first 17 games to start the season and finished with a 23-9 record.
This past weekend, SU traveled east on I-90 to participate in the Siena Saints invitational. The Orange played three games over three days, starting with a match against the hosting Saints on Thursday night. That contest started slow for Syracuse, at one point being down 11-1 in the first set. However, Syracuse’s resilience has been the key so far this season. It was certainly shown in the opening set. Even after the Orange began to chip away, the Saints regained a large point margin, leading 18-9. SU head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam and his squad had other ideas. The Orange ended the first set on a tear, scoring 10 of the final 13 points. SU forced a win-by-two scenario, taking the first set 26-24. That momentum carried over into a 25-22 second set win and was capped off by a 25-17 third set victory. Syracuse took down Siena 3-0 in straight sets to start the weekend. Leading the charge in that was Siena freshman Skylar George, who recorded a season-high 19 kills.
On Saturday, it was just more of the same, but this time against a familiar foe. Back in the first match of the season on Aug. 30, Syracuse dominated against NJIT taking the game in straight sets. Some fans might have felt a little déjà vu, as Syracuse did that once again. But it wasn’t as easy as it sounds. The Orange started off the match slowly and barely squeaked out a win in the first set. NJIT was up 24-21 but once again SU’s resilience was on full display. Five points in a row for Syracuse including back-to-back blocks by graduate student Ava Palm, led to a 26-24 win in the first set. The Orange’s energy carried late into the second set, as SU scored seven of the final nine points going up 2-0 in the match with a 25-19 win. In the third set, SU looked to be in trouble, with NJIT making a final push. But graduate student Sydney Moore sealed the deal,l ending the match with three consecutive kills and a final block, securing another win in straight sets.
Syracuse’s final match was historic, as it was the first time SU and Idaho had ever faced each other. Unlike the first two games of the weekend, the ‘Cuse got off to a hot start racking up 10 of the final 12 points in the first set. After a 25-15 first-set victory, the Orange added a 25-14 second-set win and capped it off with a 25-20 victory in the third set.
Syracuse went 3-0 in the Siena Saints invitational and all three wins came in straight sets. Overall this season, six of the ‘Cuse’s nine wins have come in the form of straight-set victories. The Orange will return as they will host the Syracuse invitational between Sept. 19-22. SU will take on Le Moyne on Thursday, Iowa State on Saturday, and Cornell on Sunday.
