Friday, November 30
University Park, Pa.
5 p.m.
Syracuse University
19-8
3
vs
0
Yale
19-5
1
2
3
F
Yale
22
21
16
0
Syracuse
25
25
25
3
Photo by: Matthew Sniegowski
Syracuse Earns Historic Win in First NCAA Tournament Appearance
11/30/2018 7:48:00 PM | Volleyball
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – In the program's first NCAA tournament match, the Syracuse volleyball team walked away with a historic 3-0 sweep over Yale Friday evening on the campus of Penn State. The Orange continue NCAA Tournament play Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. where they will take on eight-seeded Penn State.
The postseason spotlight did not bother freshman Polina Shemanova who led the Orange with 12 kills and 12 digs. Santita Ebangwese had an errorless performance with 10 kills on 15 attacks for a .667 hitting percentage. Amber Witherspoon also hit .667 with nine kills. The trio had their hands on 15 of the team's 16 blocks led by six from Witherspoon and five each from Shemanova and Ebangwese.
Syracuse (19-8, 14-4 ACC) defeated Yale (19-5, 13-1 Ivy) by set scores of 25-22, 25-21 and 25-16.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After securing a first set victory, Syracuse fell behind 9-6 due to a 4-0 run from Yale. The Bulldogs extended their lead to 12-7. A service error from the Bulldogs signaled a shift in momentum as Ella Saada started a string of three points for the Orange pulling them within two, 14-12. Yale moved back to an 18-14 lead but three-straight kills from Ebangwese jump started an 8-0 Syracuse run for a 22-18 lead.
Syracuse wasted little time in the third set behind a powerful .387 hitting percentage. Up 13-11, Syracuse sped past the Bulldogs on a 6-1 run for a 19-12 lead. Another string of five unanswered points helped the Orange close out the third set for a 25-16 victory.
The Orange trailed only once in the first set, 2-1, before using five blocks to push past the Bulldogs.
COACH YELIN'S THOUGHTS
"Number 1, before to even get into our game, I want to congratulate the Yale University volleyball team. It is a great achievement and a great team that is well coached, so we can be very pleased. [The Seniors] brought experience and that is what they have to do. You don't have to explain to them that this is the last opportunity. Trying to go and make history and having fun is what you have to do."
OF NOTE
Following eight-seeded Penn State's victory Friday night, Syracuse will face-off against the Nittany Lions in the second-round of the NCAA tournament. The second-round match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start at Penn State's Rec Hall. The match will be broadcast on Big 10 Network.
The postseason spotlight did not bother freshman Polina Shemanova who led the Orange with 12 kills and 12 digs. Santita Ebangwese had an errorless performance with 10 kills on 15 attacks for a .667 hitting percentage. Amber Witherspoon also hit .667 with nine kills. The trio had their hands on 15 of the team's 16 blocks led by six from Witherspoon and five each from Shemanova and Ebangwese.
Syracuse (19-8, 14-4 ACC) defeated Yale (19-5, 13-1 Ivy) by set scores of 25-22, 25-21 and 25-16.
First NCAA tournament appearance ☑
— Syracuse Volleyball (@CuseVB) December 1, 2018
First NCAA tournament win ☑
Not done yet 😏 pic.twitter.com/Sw1uyxYk2M
HOW IT HAPPENED
After securing a first set victory, Syracuse fell behind 9-6 due to a 4-0 run from Yale. The Bulldogs extended their lead to 12-7. A service error from the Bulldogs signaled a shift in momentum as Ella Saada started a string of three points for the Orange pulling them within two, 14-12. Yale moved back to an 18-14 lead but three-straight kills from Ebangwese jump started an 8-0 Syracuse run for a 22-18 lead.
Syracuse wasted little time in the third set behind a powerful .387 hitting percentage. Up 13-11, Syracuse sped past the Bulldogs on a 6-1 run for a 19-12 lead. Another string of five unanswered points helped the Orange close out the third set for a 25-16 victory.
The Orange trailed only once in the first set, 2-1, before using five blocks to push past the Bulldogs.
COACH YELIN'S THOUGHTS
"Number 1, before to even get into our game, I want to congratulate the Yale University volleyball team. It is a great achievement and a great team that is well coached, so we can be very pleased. [The Seniors] brought experience and that is what they have to do. You don't have to explain to them that this is the last opportunity. Trying to go and make history and having fun is what you have to do."
OF NOTE
- Syracuse hit .347 as a team, the Orange's fourth-best of the season. 'Cuse found an answer for the stout Yale defense that entered the night ranked eighth in the country in opponent hitting percentage (.153).
- Shemanova recorded her 15th double-double of the season in her 25th double-digit match.
- Syracuse had only eight attack errors, matching a season-best for the fewest recorded.
- Syracuse recorded 12 blocks as a team
- Shemanova, Ebangwese, Witherspoon and Saada combined for 37 of the team's 41 kills.
Following eight-seeded Penn State's victory Friday night, Syracuse will face-off against the Nittany Lions in the second-round of the NCAA tournament. The second-round match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start at Penn State's Rec Hall. The match will be broadcast on Big 10 Network.
Team Stats
YALE
SU
Kills
45
41
Errors
20
8
Attempts
126
95
Hitting %
.198
.347
Points
51.5
56.0
Assists
43
40
Aces
3
3
Blocks
3.5
12.0
Game Leaders
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Kills
6
Aces
2
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
MB
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballHighlights | Syracuse at Florida State
Saturday, November 01
Bakeer Ganesharatnam Press Conference | Syracuse at Georgia Tech
Saturday, November 01
Skylar George and Sydnie Waller Press Conference | 10.28.2025
Tuesday, October 28
Head Volleyball Coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam Weekly Press Conference | 10.28.2025
Tuesday, October 28
