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Down two sets to none, Syracuse trailed 19-12 in the third set against No. 17 SMU.

Yet, the Orange found a spark, rattling off four straight points, forcing the Mustangs to call a timeout.

Syracuse returned from the timeout with an incredible surge. Blocks by Sydney Moore and Veronica Sierzant drew the game even at 20, the first tie of the match.

After trading points, Skylar George recorded an attacking error, allowing SMU to take charge and grab three more points.

Despite nabbing the next point, SU couldn’t catch SMU and fell, 25-22.

Syracuse (12-3, 0-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) fell in straight sets to No. 17 SMU (11-3, 3-0 ACC) Friday night. The Orange dropped their third straight contest, and their 25th straight ACC match.

Head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam noted that he thought the team learned a lot from their games in North Carolina, playing a forceful third set against UNC and carrying that momentum for a strong fight against Duke.

Against SMU, though, Syracuse struggled from the very beginning of the first set. The team was in the wrong rotation order three separate times, causing some confusion on the court and SMU to gain three points.

Ganesharatnam said he mixed up two numbers on the line-up sheet, leading to the errors.

“In the moment, maybe there’s a little bit of stress,” captain Nikki Shimao said. “It wasn’t the best situation but I think we got to make the best out of it.”

In the first set, Syracuse clawed back from eight down to close the gap to just three. SU trailed 16-13 and rode a 5-0 run. Though, Nnedi Okammor ended the surge with a kill, to make it 17-13.

Then, the Orange rattled off three straight errors and allowed the Mustangs to pull away and take the first set, 25-15.

SU’s hitting percentage increased from -4.3% to 12.9% in the second set, and its attack errors decreased from seven to four. While Syracuse had a stronger set, SMU still defeated the Orange, 25-17.

SMU maintained the lead throughout the entire set, recording 14 kills and a 29.4% hitting percentage.

SU fought to the end in the third set, but fell just short, and lost its second match of the season in straight sets. George led the team in kills and points, recording seven for both. Sara Wasiakowska and Ava Palm followed George, recording five and four kills.

“Ava is one of the most consistent players,” Ganesharatnam said. “I thought she’s always somebody that’s out there competing at the highest level and always works hard… For her and Skylar George (the match) was not easy.”

Sierzant led the team in assists (13), hitting percentage (1.000), and tied for service aces with Zharia Harris-Waddy at two. Sierzant played in all three sets while SU’s current lead for assists Mira Ledermueller played in only two.

Despite only playing in one set, Moore recorded the second highest hitting percentage at 0.667.

Syracuse’s road doesn’t get easier, as it faces No. 1 Pitt on Sunday.

“It’s really important for us that we stay together, we don’t panic, (and) that we focus on the process of improving as a team,” Ganesharatnam said.

Published on October 5, 2024 at 12:08 am

Contact Vivian: vpcollins06@gmail.com