Second Set Comeback Helps Syracuse To 3-1 Victory Over Duke

Sunday, September 30

Durham, NC

1 pm

Syracuse University

8-4, 4-0ACC

Duke

7-6, 1-3ACC

Syracuse

Duke

Second Set Comeback Helps Syracuse To 3-1 Victory Over Duke

9/30/2018 4:19:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

DURHAM, N.C. – A 6-1 run in the second set helped the Syracuse volleyball team overcome a seven-point deficit on its way to defeating Duke, 3-1, Sunday afternoon. The Orange defeated Duke by set scores of 18-25, 26-24, 25-21, 25-17.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After taking the first set, Duke (7-6, 1-3 ACC) looked to keep the momentum on their side jumping out to a 4-1 lead to open the second. The Blue Devils extended their lead to as large as seven. Back-to-back service aces from Kendra Lukacs helped Syracuse (8-4, 4-0 ACC) inch back into the match, 14-11. A late 4-0 run put the Orange within striking distance, 20-21. Santita Ebangwese used a big kill to give Syracuse a 21-20 lead, its first of the set. Two more kills from Syracuse proved to be enough to take the set 26-24.

Duke took an early lead in the third set, 10-5, before four consecutive kills from Ebangwese and Polina Shemanova pulled Syracuse within one. The Orange took another late run, 7-1, for a 23-20 lead that helped clinch the third set.

After finding its rhythm, Syracuse opened the fourth set with a big 8-2 lead. The Orange stifled Duke's attack extending out to a 16-6 lead. Duke tried to narrow the gap with a 5-1 run before two points from Shemanova clinched Syracuse's fifth straight victory.

OF NOTE
Freshman Polina Shemanova led the Orange in kills for the fourth-straight match. Her game-high 25 kills and 18 digs also gave her a set of career-highs. Yuliia Yastrub added 14 kills for a career-high of her own, while Ella Saada recorded a season-best 18 digs. Jalissa Trotter dished out a game-high 47 assists.

Despite hitting sub-.200 in the first two sets, the Orange responded with a .342 hitting percentage in the final two sets to close out the match.

UP NEXT
Syracuse stays on the road as they travel to take on undefeated No. 8 Pittsburgh Friday, Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. The matchup will be broadcast live on ACCN Extra.