Syracuse Volleyball Drops Two Games against Ranked ACC Teams
By Josh Solomon | @JoshSolo29
After losing the first two games of ACC play last weekend in North Carolina, Syracuse returned home to the Women’s Building for two ranked conference matchups. Those games are the first-ranked opponents SU has faced this season.
First up was 17th-ranked Southern Methodist University on Friday night. The Women’s Building was rocking throughout the contest, but that didn’t stop the Mustangs from getting out on the right foot. SMU dominated the first set, going up early 16-8. The Mustangs also won the final points in a row, taking the first set 25-15. Unfortunately for Syracuse, the second set was more of the same. Despite a run by SU early in the set taking a 9-8 lead, SMU stomped its way back capturing four of the last five points of the 25-17 second set victory. Now up 2-0, the Mustangs were in the driver’s seat. However, the Orange showed a fight that didn’t seem apparent throughout the first two sets of the match. It all started when right-side hitter Sara Wasiakowska picked up three straight kills to keep Syracuse within the third set. After Wasiakowska’s third kill of that set, SMU only led by two points. But the Mustangs went on a five-point run in the middle of the set taking a 16-8 lead. However, SU also went on a run, totaling eight of nine points late in the third set. The Mustangs’ finishing touches came in four of the last five points. SMU took the third set 25-22 and was victorious over SU in straight sets. Opposite hitter Naya Shime was the highlight for the Mustangs. Shime finished the match with 12 kills and seven digs. The lone bright spots for the Orange were outside hitters Ava Palm and Skylar George who combined for 11 kills.
On Sunday, SU was still seeking its first ACC victory. However, Syracuse took on the best team in the country, Pittsburgh. The Panthers came into the match undefeated in the 2024 season at 13-0, only losing a single set the entire year. SU knew it wasn’t going to be easy but were able to keep the game competitive. It started early with Ava Palm’s heroics, the grad students’ five kills in the first six SU points kept the game close. After being ahead by just three points at that time, Pitt went on a run and never slowed down. The Panthers won the last four points in a row, taking the first set 25-14. At this point, it was easy to doubt Syracuse, thinking the game might get out of hand. The Orange swung some momentum their way in the second set. The Orange went on a four-point run in the middle of the set and were only down 18-15. Right-side hitter Sydnie Waller had two kills throughout that sequence to keep the match tight. But when taking on the number one squad, it’s never that easy. Pitt followed SU’s run with a 6-1 run of their own to reach set point. The Panthers won the second set 25-18. In the third set, it was more of the same with a 25-14 Pitt victory leading to a straight-sets win. Ava Palm once again led the Orange with 10 kills and two service aces. The grad student has reached double-digit kills in 12 of the 16 games played this season.
Despite Palm’s and the rest of the team’s efforts, Syracuse went 0-2 at home this weekend. Luckily for Cuse fans, it was only the first home weekend in conference play. The Orange return to the Women’s Building and welcome Florida opponents in Miami on Oct. 18 and 16th-ranked Florida State on Oct. 20. Before then, SU will take a trip to the West Coast for two matches next weekend. The Orange are still seeking their first ACC win, and after four straight losses, the squad is 12-4. First up, Syracuse takes on No. 5 Stanford on Friday at 10 p.m.
