Orange Spotlight – November 12, 2007 - Syracuse University Athletics

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – As the temperatures are dropping, the heat is rising for the Syracuse volleyball team. Following back-to-back BIG EAST wins against Villanova and Seton Hall, the Orange has qualified for the conference tournament held November 16 – 18 in Milwaukee, Wis., at Marquette’s Al McGuire Center. The Syracuse cross country teams drew its seasons to a close at the NCAA Northeast Regional in Boston, Mass., at Franklin Park. Junior Jeff Scull’s ninth-place finish overall yielded an invitation as an individual performer to the NCAA Championships, held Monday, November 19 in Terre Haute, Ind.

Cross Country

Junior Jeff Scull led the Orange men to a third-place finish overall and junior Nana Sang-Bender powered the Syracuse women to a fourth-place tally at the NCAA Regionals in Boston, Mass., at Franklin Park. Scull’s (30:14.35) ninth-place finish garnered Northeast All-Region honors and qualified for an individual invitation to the NCAA Championships on Monday, November 19 in Terre Haute, Ind. Sophomore Dan Busby (30:15.60) and graduate Jordan Davis (30:33.15) joined Scull on the all-region roster after 11^th and 25^th-place finishes, respectively.

Sang-Bender (21:04.55) earned all-region accolades after posting a 12^th-place performance. Senior Liz Cufari (21:24.35) and freshman Katie Hursey (21:24.40) also garnered all-region honors after finishing 20^th and 21^st, respectively.

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LAST WEEK

November 10 – NCAA Northeast Regional (Men: 3^rd; Women: 4^th)

Volleyball (21-12, 8-6)

The 2007 Orange volleyball regular season concluded on Sunday around 4:00 p.m. following a 3-1 BIG EAST win against Seton Hall. Hours later, Syracuse learned that its fate, once in the hands of several BIG EAST teams competing on Sunday, rested in Milwaukee, Wis. By virtue of the BIG EAST’s second tie-breaker, which divides total number of conference games won by total number of conference games played, the Orange qualified as the eight seed for the conference tournament, held at Marquette’s Al McGuire Center.

Syracuse faced two must-win matches heading into the weekend against Villanova and the Pirates. Redshirt-junior April Quigley’s four-game single-match program record 65 assists against the Wildcats powered the Orange to a dramatic 3-1 victory. Junior Brittany Kern’s 19 kills led five Orange players with in double-figures. Senior Cheryl Cobbina tallied her 14^th double-double of the season after collecting 10 kills and 15 digs.

Behind 16 kills apiece from Cobbina and sophomore Kacie MacTavish, the Orange ended the BIG EAST regular season with a critical triumph against the Pirates. Sophomore Sarah Morton’s five solo blocks improved her season total to 72, eclipsing Jessica Paarlberg’s single-season record of 70 set in 1988.

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LAST WEEK

November 6 – Syracuse 3, Siena 0

November 9 – Syracuse 3, Villanova 1

November 11 – Syracuse 3, Seton Hall 1

THIS WEEK

November 16 – BIG EAST Tournament, vs. No. 17 Louisville (1:30 p.m. ET)

November 17 – BIG EAST Tournament (TBA)

November 18 – BIG EAST Tournament (TBA)

Complete 2007 Volleyball Schedule