Orange outlasted by UNI attack, fall in three

Saturday, September 17

Cedar Falls, IA

8 pm

Syracuse University

1-9

UNI

8-5

Syracuse

UNI

9/17/2016 9:40:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Ebangwese selected to All-Tournament team

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – In the UNI Tournament finale, the Syracuse volleyball team fell in three sets to tournament host UNI (16-25, 18-25, 18-25) on Saturday night in Cedar Falls.

Sophomore Santita Ebangwese was selected to the 2016 UNI All-Tournament team. The remainder of the team will be announced tomorrow after the UNI vs. North Dakota State game.

Sophomore Anastasiya Gorelina and freshman Mackenzie Weaver spearheaded the Orange attack and defense on the night, registering eight kills and two blocks apiece.

Junior Belle Sand led 'Cuse from the back court with 14 digs. Sand also tallied three kills and one service ace.

The Orange (1-9, 0-0 ACC) got off to a fast start, leading the Panthers 2-0 thanks to a Panther setting error and a kill from Gorelina. A 9-1 run by UNI regained the lead for the Panthers (8-5, 0-0 MVC) early in the first, forcing the Orange to call their first timeout.

Syracuse started to turn things around out of the timeout, as Gorelina and Weaver registered a pair of kills (5-10 UNI).

The pair traded points back-and-forth for an even 5-5 run to bring the score to 10-15 UNI.

A second equal 2-2 run maintained the five-point separation, until a kill from sophomore Jalissa Trotter slightly closed the gap to four points (13-17).

The Panthers capitalized on a 3-1 run (14-20 UNI) to push the second Orange timeout of the first set.

A final 5-2 run rewarded the Panthers with the set one win, 25-16.

The Orange tied up the score four times in the early stages of the second set, the last at eight thanks to a service ace from junior Belle Sand. UNI was able to grab a trio of points to take a three-point stride forward ahead (11-8 UNI), forcing Syracuse to call a timeout.

'Cuse capitalized on a 3-0 run out of the timeout after a Panther kill to close the gap to two points (10-12 UNI).

The Panthers answered back quickly with a 5-2 run of their own to force the second Syracuse timeout of the set (12-17 UNI).

A block by sophomore Amber Witherspoon and Gorelina halted the UNI run and brought the score to 13-17. The Orange continued the momentum despite a UNI point, as sophomore Santita Ebangwese registered a kill and the Panthers committed a pair of attacking errors (16-18 UNI).

UNI tallied a four-point run late in the second set, but a kill from Weaver stopped the Panther momentum (17-22 UNI).

The Panthers tallied a 3-1 run to close out the second set over the Orange, 25-18.

UNI jumped out to a quick start in the third set, but the Orange fought back to take the lead, 5-4, thanks to a triple-block from Ebangwese, Witherspoon and Gorelina, a kill from Ebangwese and an error from the Panthers.

The Panthers answered back with a 3-0 run, but an Ebangwese kill halted the run and brought 'Cuse back within one (6-7 UNI).

Looking to keep the pressure on, the Orange kept the game within no more than two points and finally tying the score at 10 after a Weaver kill.

The Orange tied the game at 11, 12 and again at 13 in an attempt to continue the game to a fourth set. UNI wasn't willing to let up, as the Panthers registered a 4-0 run to lead by four (13-17 UNI).

A 3-1 UNI run forced 'Cuse to call a time out as the Panthers led the third set, 20-14.

Ebangwese and Gorelina combined for a stop at the net and a point for the Orange (15-22 UNI).

A pair of 'Cuse points at the end of the third set weren't enough, as the Panthers closed out the set 25-18 to grab the match win.

The Orange return home to open ACC play on Friday, Sept. 23 against Boston College at 5:30 p.m.

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