Emily Betteridge sat on the Syracuse bench for two sets, joking with teammates, cheering after blocks and celebrating SU’s two-set lead over Rutgers last weekend. In a potential sweep, the freshman didn’t think she would see the floor to replace the team’s starting setter, Laura Homann.

That sweep was interrupted by a Rutgers win in the third set, though. And when SU took the court for the fourth set, interim head coach Kelly Morrisroe had an in-match lineup change: Betteridge was in, and Homann was out.

‘I don’t mind switching in Emily,’ Morrisroe said. ‘Laura’s our starter, but (Betteridge) tends to give us a different look on offense, and with our defense, that’s all we need sometimes.’

For team chemistry reasons, it’s rare that coaches rotate players at setter. But SU’s two road opponents this weekend, West Virginia and Pittsburgh, should prepare to face an effective setter rotation. The Orange play at the Mountaineers Saturday at 2 p.m. and then travel to Pittsburgh for a match Sunday at 2 p.m. Last weekend against the Scarlet Knights, SU (16-8, 5-3 Big East) clinched that fourth set and won against Rutgers with Betteridge, not Homann, closing.

SU can separate itself from the Big East teams behind it with another strong weekend. Morrisroe said both WVU (5-15, 3-6) and Pitt (14-10, 4-5) are strong at outside hitter, so scoring will be at a premium. SU will need to keep up its current offensive output — the team hit a season-high .336 against Rutgers and hit .241 against Seton Hall last weekend

Morrisroe knows her team had struggled on offense, and said she’s comfortable using Betteridge late because of her polished offensive game.

With 15 assists in the match against Rutgers and eight more against Seton Hall, Betteridge knows she’ll be called upon if the Orange attack sputters.

Transitioning from the bench to the court isn’t easy, though.

‘Obviously Laura has a lot more experience than me, especially in pressure situations,’ Betteridge said. ‘It takes a couple points to get into it. It’s tough.’

Betteridge’s teammates also had a tough time adjusting to her increased playing time. Morrisroe said Homann, a junior who has started since her freshman year, brings her own unique style when she directs the SU offense.

Middle blocker Samantha Hinz said having a new player at the helm of the SU attack was a bit of a culture shock.

‘It’s weird at first to not see Laura out there,’ Hinz said. ‘But practice by practice, you get used to Emily, and it’s been working so we’re getting used to it.’

Winning helps ease what could have been awkward transition to a new coach. But the Orange hasn’t lost since Morrisroe implemented a substitution philosophy after taking over for Jing Pu, who was fired on Oct. 17.

Pu used Betteridge sparingly in his one-setter system. But Morrisroe uses both players in her rotation.

Homann said she is fine with a dip in her playing time if it’s for the good of the team.

‘You’re a little bit discouraged when you come off (the court), but I think it’s really nice,’ Homann said. ‘It keeps the other teams off pace and it gives us a huge advantage.’

From a game preparation standpoint, Homann said the two-setter system must cause headaches for opponents. WVU and Pitt will have to study two different setters and SU will be better acclimated with the switch as the team continues to practice with both Homann and Betteridge.

Those two advantages could propel SU into a perfect position to further its Big East tournament push with two more wins.

‘There are going to be teams at the bottom that upset some teams at the top, so we need to focus on our game,’ Morrisroe said. ‘We need to make sure we’re winning games we need to win in order to solidify our spot in the tournament.’

nctoney@syr.edu

 

Published on October 26, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Nick: nctoney@syr.edu | @nicktoneytweets