Syracuse Beats BC In Home Finale

Wednesday, November 27

Syracuse, N.Y.

1 p.m.

Syracuse University

15-16, 10-9ACC

Boston College

9-22, 1-18ACC

Boston College

Syracuse

Freshman Erica Handley posted her first double-double with 26 assists and 10 digs

11/27/2013 5:07:00 PM | Volleyball

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse women's volleyball team used a balanced attack to defeat Boston College 3-1 in its home finale on Wednesday, Nov. 27 at the Women's Building.

After dropping the first set, SU (15-16, 10-9 ACC) took the next three frames (23-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-20) to clinch a league record of at least .500 in the club's first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Syracuse has won the last four meetings with Boston College (9-22, 1-18) and owns a 22-6 all-time record.

A number of Syracuse players had career and season best games, led by freshman Erica Handley's first career double-double with 26 assists and 10 digs to go along with six kills and three blocks. Handley was one of six Orange women to finish with at least six kills.

Redshirt junior Lindsay McCabe tallied a season-high 10 kills with no errors and six total blocks, including three solo. McCabe now has 65 career solo blocks – tied for ninth all time – and 129 block assists this season, which is tied for fifth in a single-season at SU.

Junior Nicolette Serratore racked up a career-high 22 digs and added nine kills and three aces while sophomore Silvi Uattara set a new personal high with 20 digs. Sophomores Gosia Wlaszczuk and Monika Salkute also contributed solid efforts. Wlaszczuk had eight kills, six blocks and six digs. Salkute recorded six kills with no errors and matched a season high with nine blocks, including a personal-best three solo blocks.

Junior Melina Violas ended up with 16 digs, marking the 13th time in 15 matches she reached double-digit digs.

A season-best 86 team digs helped the Orange hold Boston College to a hitting percentage of just .077, the third lowest by an opponent this season and lowest against an Atlantic
Coast Conference opponent. Syracuse also had a 16-6 blocking edge.

The first set featured eight ties and five lead changes. With the score tied 14-14, SU went on a 7-2 run to take control at 21-16 thanks to a pair of kills, a block and an ace from Salkute. However, Boston College registered nine of the last 11 points, including the final six to steal the set with Alexandra Trobbe serving up three aces.

Syracuse came out ready in the second, beginning the set with eight of the first 10 scores. An 8-1 spurt gave the Eagles their first lead at 13-12, but SU countered with a 9-3 run and went back ahead for good at 21-16. After three sideouts, the Orange forced three straight attack errors, capped by a solo block from Serratore to take the second set 25-18.

Neither team led by more than one in the third set until five unanswered points had SU on top 11-6. Boston College closed the gap to 16-14 when the Orange scored six straight behind three blocks from McCabe to grow the lead to 22-14. The Eagles attempted to make a run, but Uattara smacked a kill to close out the set at 25-20.

The Orange found itself in an early hole, trailing 10-5 in the fourth set. Syracuse battled back with six points in a row to go up 13-11 following five straight errors by the Eagles. With five of the next six points, Boston College regained the edge at 16-14. An 8-0 run, with Serratore smacking three kills, gave SU a 22-16 margin it wouldn't relinquish. Uattara recorded the final kill again to end the match.

Katty Workman (10 kills, 17 digs), Amanda Yerke (11 kills, 12 digs) and Kellie Barnum (46 assists, 16 digs) all notched double-doubles for the Eagles. Melissa McTighe had a match-high 16 kills.