Orange Frenzy: Syracuse Bests Villanova, 3-1

Friday, November 9

Women's Building

7:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

Villanova

Redshirt-junior April Quigley set a four-game program-record with 65 assists in the Orange's 3-1 win against Villanova on Friday.

11/9/2007 10:27:11 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Box Score
BIG EAST Standings

SYRACUSE – The Orange volleyball team improved its chances of qualifying for the BIG EAST Tournament following a dramatic 3-1 win Friday night in front of a raucous crowd in the SU Women’s Building. Syracuse hosts Seton Hall in the regular season conference finale on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

“We really fed off the crowd’s energy tonight,” said second-year Syracuse assistant coach Carol LaMarche. “There was something about the third game that told me we we’re going to pull this one out. The team stepped up tonight and got it done. It’s time to think about Seton Hall.”

Junior Brittany Kern powered the Orange offense with a club-best 19 kills and a .529 attack percentage. Redshirt-junior April Quigley eclipsed a four-game program-record with 65 assists and directed a Syracuse attack that boasted five players with at least 10 kills.

Senior Cheryl Cobbina posted her team-leading 14^th double-double of the season after collecting 10 kills and 15 digs. Sophomore Sarah Morton totaled 17 kills, a .464 attack clip and three total blocks. Morton climbs three solo blocks shy of breaking the Syracuse single-season record heading into Sunday’s finale with 68.

Defensively, senior leader Joscie Kaup matched Cobbina with a team-high 15 digs and sophomore Shanetha McLaurin posted 13.

Morton and Kern charged the Orange to victory in game four behind stellar attack performances. Kern downed eight kills on just 11 attempts for a .727 attack percentage. Morton was as equally efficient with four kills on five tries, resulting in a .800 hitting clip. Quigley’s poise and experience took center stage as the junior added 21 helpers.

In game three, LaMarche eludes to a marathon 39-37 win in favor of the Orange. Syracuse gained a 2-1 advantage after several game-point opportunities brought the SU faithful to its feet in applause. After 15 points of bonus volleyball, Alona Cherkez’s attack attempt sailed wide handing the Orange the critical one-game cushion.

Syracuse stumbled out of the gates after the Wildcats posted a convincing 30-23 victory in game one. SU responded to even the match at one game apiece with a 33-31 overtime win in game two. Freshmen Mindy Stanislovaitis led the Syracuse offense with a team-high six kills on just 10 attacks in the win. Stanislovaitis recorded 13 kills and a .321 attack percentage, while leading the Orange defense with five total blocks.

The Orange win marks the seventh time in the 13-year Jing Pu Era that Syracuse has reached the 20-win plateau.

Syracuse (20-12, 7-6) welcomes the Pirates to the Women’s Building on Sunday for a BIG EAST matchup with epic proportions. The Orange remains in the thick of the conference tournament race, joining Connecticut, following a 3-0 loss against USF on Friday, and Pittsburgh with identical league marks. For the latest and most up-to-date BIG EAST standings, click here.