Orange Wins 2007 Home-Opener Against Buffalo

Tuesday, August 28

Manley Field House

6:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

Buffalo

Senior Cheryl Cobbina's (above) 15 kills led the Orange to a 3-0 win against Buffalo in the season's home-opener.

8/28/2007 8:29:44 PM | Volleyball

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Senior Cheryl Cobbina collected 15 kills and 13 digs, while sophomore Samantha Ainsworth tallied 22 assists as the Syracuse volleyball team opened its 2007 home schedule with a 3-0 win against in-state rival Buffalo.

Senior captain Joscie Kaup led the Orange with 14 digs and sophomore Kacie MacTavish added 10 kills. Syracuse tallied a season-high .267 hitting percentage en route to the win.

“I really think the team came out strong tonight,” said Kaup, who entered the second week of the season ranked first among BIG EAST players in digs. “It’s important for us to win these games and stay on top against teams in the state.”

Syracuse (2-2) set the tone for the night with a 30-18 win in game one behind four kills apiece from MacTavish and junior Brittany Kern. Cobbina added three kills while Ainsworth collected seven assists.

Redshirt-junior April Quigley tallied 16 assists as the Orange won game two, 30-24. Cobbina led the way for the Orange with seven kills. Sophomore Sarah Morton added four kills to the cause.

“Cheryl’s really been our go-to player so far this season,” said second-year assistant coach Carol LaMarche.

Trailing 8-2 early in game three, freshman Sarah Hayes, making her collegiate debut, propelled the Orange to a 13-0 run and a 15-8 lead from the service position. Ainsworth tallied 15 assists and Cobbina buried five kills as the Orange closed out the match with a 30-21 triumph.

Freshmen Hayley Todd and Mindy Stanislovaitis also made their collegiate debuts. Todd tallied five kills while Stanislovaitis recorded four.

The Orange return to the road for the Sheraton Hilton Invitational hosted by the University of Akron. Syracuse opens tournament-play on Friday against Mississippi at 1:30 p.m. before playing Wright State at 4:30 p.m. The Orange concludes the weekend against host Akron at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.