Orange Topped in Three by No. 15 Seminoles

Friday, September 30

Tallahassee, FL

7 pm

Syracuse University

2-11, 1-2ACC

Florida State

10-2, 3-0ACC

Syracuse

Florida State

9/30/2016 10:24:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

‘Cuse drops first ACC road test

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Syracuse volleyball team fell in three sets (17-25, 16-25, 16-25) to ACC foe #15 Florida State on the road on Friday night at Tully Gymnasium. The Orange are now 1-2 in conference play and 2-11 overall.

The pair of sophomore Anastasiya Gorelina and freshman Kendra Lukacs tallied 11 kills apiece to lead the Orange offensively on the court.

"Anastasiya and Kendra were really good at delivering when the team was out of system," associate head coach Erin Little said.

"Our outside hitters played well. They gave us good numbers in hitting. I think as a team they responded to Florida State and they pretty much played point-for-point with them until Florida State capitalized on a serving run at the end of a game and we couldn't get out of the rotation," Little said. "They learned a lot."

Sophomore Jalissa Trotter contributed 18 assists, while freshman Aliah Bowllan led the team in digs with 14 on the night.

"We're able to give a lot of players an opportunity to come on the floor and help the team, so we've been able to get a lot of people in the game," coach Little said. "It's helped to develop the young team and helped to build the team every match."

The Seminoles (10-2, 3-0 ACC) began the first set with momentum, as they jumped out to a 9-4 lead to force a 'Cuse timeout. The Orange were unable to close the gap after the break as FSU maintained a six-point split between the teams going into Syracuse's final timeout of the set.

Gorelina registered a pair of kills to bring the game within four, but the Seminoles didn't let up, as they charged ahead to take set one, 25-17.

The second set proved to be much closer, as the Orange kept the game within no more than three points up until the first Syracuse timeout, Florida State leading 13-10.

Syracuse brought the game within one point (16-15 FSU) with sophomore Santita Ebangwese at the serving line, forcing FSU to call its first timeout of the match.

The Seminoles responded to the break, tallying a 9-1 run to close out the set on top, 25-16.

In the same fashion as the second set, the third was played point-for-point early on, as the Orange took their first lead of the match after a kill from Lukacs (5-4 SU).

'Cuse held onto the lead until the game was tied at 12. The Seminoles switched the momentum and put themselves back on top of the scoreboard, leading by two when 'Cuse called a timeout (15-13 FSU).

FSU went on another long 10-3 serving run to close out the third set, 25-16.

Syracuse continues ACC play on Sunday when it travels to Coral Gables to face Miami in a Noon match at the James L. Knight Sports Complex.

"I think we are looking forward to learning how to come out and play confidently and relaxed against every opponent," coach Little said. "I think Miami will give us a good shot to do that."

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