Syracuse Sweeps its Way into NIVC Quarterfinals

Friday, December 1

Hamilton, NY

7 PM

Syracuse University

Towson

Photo by: Bob Cornell

12/1/2017 9:03:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score 'Cuse vs. Towson Box Score PDF

HAMILTON, N.Y. – Santita Ebangwese finished with a match-high 16 kills and six blocks to lead the Syracuse women's volleyball team to a 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-23) victory over Towson Friday night in the second round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC). 'Cuse improves to 22-13 with the win. The Tigers drop to 27-6.

Amber Witherspoon totaled 11 kills with four blocks and Anastasiya Gorelina added eight kills. Jalissa Trotter posted a match-high 43 assists and Belle Sand added a team-high 12 digs.

The Orange will travel to West Virginia to face the Mountaineers on Monday, Dec. 4 in an NIVC quarterfinal matchup. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.

How It Was Decided
Ebangwese and Witherspoon combined for the first eight Syracuse kills of the match. Ebangwese added two blocks and the Orange jumped out to an early 12-7 advantage. Towson scored four straight points and cut the deficit to one, but 'Cuse closed the set on a 6-4 run to win 25-22. Ebangwese finished with nine kills in the set to go along with five from Witherspoon.

A 9-2 run early on in the second set opened up an 11-5 lead for the Orange. Gorelina and Ebangwese produced three kills each during the stretch. Later on, Towson scored four straight points to level the score at 19. A 4-0 run pushed Syracuse in front and a Mariia Levanova kill capped off a 25-22 victory.

With set three all square at 16, Ella Saada tallied a kill, followed by a Tiger attack error and a solo block from Dana Gardner to put 'Cuse in front 19-16. Towson scored three straight to even the set at 19. Witherspoon tallied three kills and a block assist down the stretch to lead the Orange to a 25-23 triumph.

Coach's Thoughts
"It was a great performance tonight, but now we have to prepare for our next opponent," said head coach Leonid Yelin. "We do not have a conference tournament, and to play in a single-elimination tournament is exciting for this team. We have to put this win behind us and get ready for West Virginia"

Of Note
West Virginia is the second Big 12 Conference foe that the Orange will face this season. Syracuse knocked off Kansas State on the road, 3-1, Sep. 1.

For all of the latest information on Syracuse volleyball, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Orange &
CuseVB), Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseVB), and Instagram (@cusepics & @cusevb).