Syracuse Volleyball loses in straight sets to NC State

By Josh Solomon | @JoshSolo29 

NC State started the match off hot with a four-point run bringing the score early to 6-2. In the middle of the set was another scoring run for the Wolfpack. NC State tallied five points in a row during that stretch extending its lead to double digits, 18-8. Syracuse never seemed to have a chance despite outside hitter Ava Palm delivering four kills in the first set. SU went down quickly with a 25-14 first-set victory for NC State. 

The Wolfpack’s momentum carried the squad into the second set. NC State tallied five straight points to begin set two. Syracuse then scored its first point of the set, before another run by North Carolina State to make the score 9-1. The second set looked even worse than the first for the Orange offensively. SU scored one less point in this set and very quickly went down 2-0 with NC State taking the second set 25-13. 

But in the third set, Syracuse wasn’t down and out. The Orange with a 2-0 deficit were turning things around in set three. SU and NC State traded points until a run in the middle of the set by the Wolfpack made it 19-13. But the ‘Cuse continued to fight through adversity scoring four points in a row on two different occasions eventually only trailing 20-19. However, the Orange effort just wasn’t strong enough against the Wolfpack. NC State scored five of the final six points and took the third set 25-20. SU suffered its 10th loss of the season in ACC play and seven of those have occurred in straight sets. 

Despite the loss, Syracuse outside hitter Skylar George finished the match with nine kills and nine digs. In addition, another Orange outside hitter Ava Palm tallied seven kills and six digs. Syracuse (13-10, 1-10 ACC) still has another match out in North Carolina this weekend against Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons are 12-10 this season with just four wins in conference play. The opening serve for that match is on Sunday at 1 p.m.