Syracuse University
Loyola, MD
Syracuse Wins Big Orange Tournament
8/31/2002 7:46:13 PM | Volleyball
SYRACUSE, NY - The Syracuse University women’s volleyball team won the Big Orange Tournament and remained undefeated after beating Loyola and Central Connecticut State on Saturday, August 31. Freshman Kristen Conway (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) was named tournament MVP after recording double figures in kills in both matches.
Syracuse (3-0) defeated both its opponents by scores of 3-0 and did not lose a game the entire tournament. The Orangewomen finished the weekend with a hitting percentage of .244, while holding their opponents to a .025 attack percentage.
Conway had 16 kills and 12 digs against Central Connecticut (1-2) to lead the Orangewomen to a 3-0 record on the season. Conway registered 12 kills versus Loyola in SU’s first match of the day. Junior co-captain Christen Casey (Long Beach, IN/Marquette) was named to the all-tournament team after recording 16 digs versus Loyola and nine against CCSU. Classmate Michaela Skelly (Simi Valley, CA/Royal) joined Casey on the all-tournament team after quarterbacking the offense with 27 assists versus Loyola and 25 against CCSU.
Jennifer Cote led CCSU with nine kills against Syracuse and 16 kills in the Blue Devils’ 3-0 win against Wagner. Katie Weber recorded a team-high 10 digs versus Syracuse. Both Cote and Weber were named to the all-tournament team.
Loyola finished the tournament with a 2-1 record after a 3-0 win against Wagner and a loss to Syracuse on Saturday. Mary Hamsher, an all-tournament team member, led the Greyhounds with a double-double against Wagner and eight kills versus the Orangewomen. Teammate Kelly Smith also received all-tournament honors after registering seven kills and seven digs against Syracuse.
Syracuse travels to Harrisonburg, VA next weekend to compete in the JMU/Days Inn Volleyball Classic. SU faces Maryland on Friday, September 6 at 10 a.m. and James Madison at 7 p.m.
