Syracuse Volleyball goes perfect in the Siena Saints invitational with straight-set win over Idaho

By Josh Solomon | @JoshSolo29   

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. — It was a slow start for Syracuse volleyball against Idaho on Saturday afternoon. The Orange might have looked fatigued after playing their third game in three days at the Siena Saints Invitational. However, any thoughts of tiredness on SU’s side quickly faded away in the middle of the first set. It was only a 16-14 lead for Syracuse in the middle of the set before it pulled away. Graduate student Sara Wasiakowska helped the squad do so. The right-side hitter finished with six kills, half of which were in the first set. In addition, Wasiakowska also had a season-high 10 digs and three blocks. Syracuse scored 10 of the final 12 points in the first set, taking it 25-15. 

That late stretch for the Orange extended into the beginning of the second set. SU scored six straight points early, forcing Idaho to take its first timeout of the set. The Vandals didn’t go down without a fight though, swinging the momentum their way by four out of five points in the early part of the set. However, the closest Idaho would get was a 10-8 SU lead. The Orange made another late push scoring eight of the final ten points in the second set. For SU graduate student Ava Palm, it was more of the same. The outside hitter made her presence known, totaling 16 kills with seven in the second set. 

In the final set, Idaho displayed its strongest push, even scoring seven points in a row during the middle of the set to keep things interesting. But the Orange’s groove wasn’t going to stop. SU’s five service aces in the third set helped control the tempo. With the cherry on top, Palm recorded another kill to end the set 25-20. Syracuse (9-0, 0-0 Atlantic Coast) took the match in straight sets 3-0 over Idaho (1-8, 0-0 Big Sky).

Upcoming, the undefeated Orange finally return home after two weeks on the road. Syracuse will host its own invitational Thursday through Sunday. SU matches up against Le Moyne, Iowa State and Cornell. First, the Orange face the Dolphins at 6 p.m. on Thursday. Le Moyne has had a slow start to the season with one win in six matches.