Syracuse University
11-4
West Virginia University
10-6
Volleyball Opens BIG EAST Play with Sweep of Mountaineers
9/26/2009 7:17:18 PM | Volleyball
Box Score
Middle blocker Sarah Morton posted a match-high 11 kills to help lead Syracuse to a 3-0 sweep of West Virginia in its BIG EAST opener on Saturday afternoon in Morgantown, W.Va. The Orange improved to 11-4 on the season and 1-0 in conference play with the victory while the Mountaineers moved to 10-6, 0-1.
It was a really good all-around effort,” assistant coach Carol LaMarche said. “Our passing and serve receive was on, which gave us a solid foundation. It was a good first BIG EAST win.”
Morton also fired off a match-best six service aces, falling one short of the single-game record set by Dana Fiume in 1999. Outside hitters Kacie MacTavish, Noemie Lefebvre and middle blocker Hayley Todd all posted eight kills each to rank second while outside hitter Annabelle Pellerin added seven. Freshman Laura Homann continued to feed the SU attack, posting a match-high 35 assists.
Defensively, Lefebvre paced the back row with 12 digs while senior libero Shanetha McLaurin had 11 and MacTavish added 10. Todd led the SU defense at the net with five total blocks, while Homann, Pellerin and Morton each added a pair of defensive stops.
Syracuse took control early in the first set, tied at 6 the Orange used a three-point run to create separation, 9-6. SU easily maintained its advantage, taking the first game, 25-19.
The Orange was even more dominating in the second set, taking an early 11-4 lead before cruising to a 25-14 victory and a 2-0 edge in the match.
Syracuse started the third game in similar fashion, jumping out to an early lead which Morton extended with three-straight service aces, 12-5. SU maintained its lead to take the set, 25-20 and the match 3-0.
SU's opening weekend road trip continues on Sunday, September 27 when it visits Pittsburgh for a 2 p.m. match.
