Orange host UConn, Colgate in season-opening weekend

Syracuse vs. UConn
Game Details	Friday, Aug. 26 \| Syracuse, N.Y. \| Women's Building \| 5 p.m.
Game Coverage	Live Coverage: Stats Twitter: @CuseVB
Syracuse Links	Notes \| News \| Roste r \| Schedule
UConn Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule

Syracuse vs. Colgate
Game Details	Sunday, Aug. 28 \| Syracuse, N.Y. \| Women's Building \| 1 p.m.
Game Coverage	Live Coverage: Stats Twitter: @CuseVB
Syracuse Links	Notes \| News \| Roste r \| Schedule
Colgate Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse volleyball team begins the 2016 campaign on its home court, as the Orange play host to UConn on Friday, Aug. 26 and in-state foe Colgate on Sunday, Aug. 28. Friday's season-opening matchup against the Huskies is at 5 p.m., while Sunday's game against the Raiders is set to begin at 1 p.m. Both contests will be held in the Women's Building.

The Orange open the season this Friday after hosting an exhibition scrimmage with Canada's Durham College last Saturday. Winning in three sets, Syracuse had the opportunity to see how the team played together after the addition of five new freshmen and the loss of four senior starters.

"We didn't know how it was going to look," head coach Leonid Yelin said. "I think the players didn't know either. It was very helpful for us to understand what we were doing in the preseason and learn what we need to keep and what kind of adjustments and changes need to be made.

"It was very helpful and hopefully this is going to help us in the next couple days to make the necessary adjustments and have a better start this weekend."

The Orange and the Huskies have a long history of competition, as Friday's match marks the 45th meeting between the two teams. 'Cuse leads the all-time series 29-15-0, including the most recent matchup when the Orange defeated the Huskies at the UConn Invitational in four sets.

Sunday's matchup with the Raiders marks the 61st time that the pair will meet on the court. Syracuse leads the all-time series with the in-state rival 48-10-2, however the most recent victory is credited to Colgate after a grueling five sets between the two teams in 2014.

Despite the loss of four seniors, the Orange return a core of players from last year that helped the team to a 23-8 record, the best finish since joining the ACC in 2013.

Junior middle blocker Leah Levert is fresh off a summer of competition with the U.S. Collegiate National Team and looks to bring some of the old team philosophies to an essentially brand new squad.

"I think our team goals are to learn how to play together," Levert said. "We're a completely new team essentially and everyone's pretty young still… we have no seniors. It's all about learning how to play together, and I think a big part of that is communicating."

Fellow middle blocker and 2015 ACC All-Freshman Team honoree Santita Ebangwese is confident in the team's synchronicity.

"I know we're young so we might be a little shaky at first, but I think that we can get it down," Ebangwese said. "I think we should be fine. I'm just looking forward to getting back into the season. It's really fun playing game after game."

With the first test this weekend, the Orange look to prepare for the season-opening match.

"Right now we're focusing on ourselves and what we have to do in the couple days that are left to make sure that we can improve as much as we can," Yelin said.

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