Syracuse University
18-8, 7-3
University of Louisville
13-9, 6-3
Morton Leads in 3-1 Loss at Louisville
10/30/2009 9:45:57 PM | Volleyball
Senior middle blocker Sarah Morton's season-high 21 kills was not enough to help the Syracuse (18-8, 7-3) overcome a strong Louisville (13-9, 6-3) team as it fell, 3-1, on Friday night at Cardinal Arena.
"We played well, we were right with them the whole match," assistant coach Carol LaMarche said. "It was a matter of a couple points and had those points gone our way the outcome would have been different. We're going to take it, learn from it and refocus on Cincinnati."
Morton's 21 kills marked the second 20-plus kills performance by an Orange student-athlete this season after junior middle blocker Hayley Todd put 21 to the floor while playing outside hitter against South Florida. The team co-captain also posted a pair of service aces and five digs.
Freshman middle blocker Samantha Hinz was second on the team with seven kills while Todd and senior outside hitter Annabelle Pellerin added five each. Rookie setter Laura Homann directed the Orange attack with a match-high 39 assists while posting a team-best nine digs.
Eight players chipped in defensively for the Orange, senior defensive specialist Shanetha McLaurin was second on the team with eight digs while Morton had five. Todd led the defensive effort at the net with four blocks while Homann had three. Pellerin, Hinz and Morton each added a pair of total rejections.
The Cardinals came out firing, taking the first set, 25-18, before the Orange evened the match with a 25-20 second set victory. Louisville regained its advantage, winning the third set, 25-20 and put the game away, 3-1, with an identical fourth-set score, 25-20.
Syracuse continues its road trip when it visits Cincinnati on Sunday, November 1 at 2 p.m.
