Trio of Double-Digit Kill Performances Push Syracuse Past Clemson, 3-1

Sunday, September 23

Syracuse, N.Y.

1 pm

Syracuse University

6-4 (2-0ACC)

Clemson

9-6 (0-2ACC)

CLEMSON

Syracuse

Trio of Double-Digit Kill Performances Push Syracuse Past Clemson, 3-1

9/23/2018 5:44:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – A trio of double-digit kill performances from Polina Shemanova, Ella Saada and Amber Witherspoon helped the Syracuse University volleyball team defeat Clemson, 3-1, Sunday afternoon. Syracuse (6-4, 2-0 ACC) defeated Clemson (9-5, 0-2 ACC) by set scores of 25-20, 25-18, 20-25 and 25-21.

Shemanova lead the Orange in kills for the ninth time this season, notching 14 against the Tigers. She also recorded a career-high 13 digs. Saada and Witherspoon both added 11 kills. Santita Ebangwese recorded a game-high five blocks along with eight kills.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams opened the first set knotted at 5-5. Syracuse fired off five-straight points including three kills from Shemanova for an 11-15 lead. The Orange held the lead for the rest of the set forcing nine first set attack errors from Clemson.

In a second set that featured nine ties, Clemson fought to halt the 'Cuse attack. The set remained tied at 12-12 until a five-point run gave Syracuse the 17-12 lead. Clemson forced three errors from Syracuse to keep themselves in match, 19-17. Two Clemson attack errors and a pair of kills from Shemanova and Saada pushed the Orange to the set win.

Clemson answered a 4-0 Syracuse run in the third set with back-to-back kills to tie the set at 16. Following a timeout, Clemson forced two Syracuse errors that gave the Tigers a 21-19 lead. Three-straight kills closed out the set victory for Clemson.

A 6-0 run in the fifth set was enough for an early 11-5 Syracuse lead that they would not relinquish.

OF NOTE
In its sixth-straight win over Clemson, Syracuse hit a four-set season-best .310. The Orange's defense forced 27 errors from Clemson's hitters, as 'Cuse held its opponents to a .178 hitting percentage.

Following Friday's 3-0 sweep over Georgia Tech, Sunday's win moves Syracuse to 2-0 in conference play for the first time since 2015.

UP NEXT
The Orange head back on the road for a four-game road trip that begins Sept. 28 at Wake Forest. Syracuse takes on the Demon Deacons at 7 p.m. before traveling to Duke Sept. 30.