Syracuse’s momentum fades away in a 3-1 loss against Wake Forest
By Josh Solomon | @JoshSolo29
After a straight sets loss on Friday to NC State, Syracuse looked to close the weekend with a tighter match against Wake Forest. SU started the match off hot going up 6-3. However, both teams ended up trading points throughout the rest of the first set. Neither the Orange or Demon Deacons had control over the match until outside hitter Sahara Maruska took matters into her own hands for Wake Forest. The graduate student hit back-to-back kills helping her squad grab the final three points of the set taking it 25-23.
The second set started once again with Syracuse in the driver’s seat up 4-1 and then 10-6. But, Wake Forest didn’t back down till the very end. SU’s 24-17 lead with just a match point to take ended up dwindling to 24-23 before a service error by the Demon Deacons ended the set. That late effort shown by Wake Forest wouldn’t be the last time in this match. However, the match was now even between the Orange and Demon Deacons at 1-1.
Onto the third set, something was different to begin this one. Wake Forest didn’t get off to a slow start. Neither team cemented a lead in the set until Syracuse scored seven of nine points in the middle of the frame grabbing a 17-12 lead. The Orange would carry this momentum up until match point. At this moment, everything felt like deja vu for the ‘Cuse. Up 24-20, it seemed a fifth set was practically inevitable. However, Wake Forest had other plans scoring five points in a row. The Demon Deacons then traded points with the Orange in a win-by-two scenario until another three-point run and a 28-26 set-three victory.
Now up two sets to one and after achieving an unbelievable late comeback to take the third set, Wake Forest’s momentum carried into the fourth. Syracuse kept it tight to start the set only being down by two points, 10-8. But from there, the Demon Deacons had two spurts scoring six points in a row in between a couple of Orange points securing a 22-9 lead. Wake Forest (13-10, 5-7 in ACC) eventually took the fourth set 25-13 and won the match 3-1 against Syracuse (13-11, 1-11 in ACC).
SU returns home next weekend for matches against number 4 Louisville and Notre Dame. The first of those is against the Cardinals on Friday at 6 p.m.
