Orange Goes 3-0 Versus Rutgers in BIG EAST Opener

Sunday, September 28

Piscataway, N.J.

2:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

Rutgers

Junior Kacie MacTavish recorded nine kills and seven digs in the 3-0 win against Rutgers.

Orange Goes 3-0 Versus Rutgers in BIG EAST Opener

9/28/2008 5:08:30 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Boxscore

Piscataway, N.J. – In its BIG EAST season opener, the Syracuse University volleyball team came out on top with a 3-0 win against the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers. It was Syracuse’s fifth straight victory against Rutgers and it marked the second-consecutive season the Orange has won its BIG EAST season opener.

Leading the Orange in kills was junior Sarah Morton with 11, while junior Kacie MacTavish tallied nine and freshman Noemie Lefebvre recorded seven. Senior April Quigley paced the offense with 37 assists.

Senior Marissa Kanemura and Lefebvre set the tone for the defense with 16 and 13 digs, respectively. Leading in blocks were sophomore Hayley Todd, who registered four block assists, and senior Brittany Kern who had three.

Todd and freshman Erin Little tallied their first block assists of the afternoon on an attack from Scarlet Knight Caitlin Saxton to earn the first point of the match. During the first part of the frame, the Orange was able to establish a four point lead, but midway through the Scarlet Knights tied it up, 15-15. From there it was a back and forth match until the final part of the set. The Scarlet Knights committed three errors to give the Orange a 24-22 lead. A set from Quigley and a kill from Lefebvre closed out the first set for the Orange, 25-22.

Rutgers posted the first two points of the second set, but it wasn’t long before Syracuse was on the board and on a roll. With the score, 8-2, Rutgers took a timeout, but it didn’t slow the Orange as the team three more points to take an 11-3 lead. Even though the Scarlet Knights fought back to within three points of the Orange by midpoint of the second set, it was the closest they would come to taking control. Syracuse held onto its lead and a kill from Morton would give the Orange a 2-0 lead going into the third set.

The third set went back and forth between the teams with neither team able to pull away early. Eight errors by the Scarlet Knights, combined with 16 kills and six blocks set up by the Orange sealed the third set for Syracuse. The Orange held Rutgers to 15 points in the final set of the match.

Syracuse’s ability to limit its errors while still recording attacks contributed to the team’s ability to win. While the Scarlet Knights recorded 52 kills compared to Syracuse’s 46, the Scarlet Knights had 19 errors and the Orange only had five.

The Orange look to continue its four-game win streak when it hosts its BIG EAST home opener on Friday, October 3 when the Huskies of UConn arrive at Manley Field House. Action begins at 7 p.m. Following on Sunday, October 5 will be St. John’s at 2 p.m.