Blue Devils Hang On, Down Orange in Five Sets

Sunday, October 6

Syracuse, NY

1 pm

Syracuse University

4-7,1-3ACC

Duke

8-9,1-3ACC

Duke

Syracuse

10/6/2019 6:46:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Highlights Photo Gallery

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – After losing the first two sets, Syracuse volleyball rallied to force a fifth but ultimately fell to Duke, 3-2, Sunday afternoon at the Women's Building. The Orange won sets three and four by scores of 25-19 and 25-22, respectively. Syracuse drops to 4-7 on the season and 1-3 in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play. This is the first time the Blue Devils have defeated the Orange since October 2016.

HOW IT HAPPENED
A pair of kills from Marina Markova and a service ace from Polina Shemanova had Syracuse ahead in the first set, 6-3. Duke answered with a 4-0 run to take a 7-6 lead and a kill from Shemanova evened the frame at seven. The score remained close and the score was level once again at 24 after an error from the Blue Devils. Duke would take the next two points to clinch the set, 26-24, and take a 1-0 lead in the match. Ella Saada and Markova led the Orange with three kills and Karakasi added 10 assists.

After falling into a quick 6-0 hole, two kills from Shemanova brought Syracuse back to within two in the second set. Later, two consecutive service aces from senior Kendra Lukacs made the score 14-12 Blue Devils, and two straight attack errors from Duke's Payton Schwantz narrowed their advantage to 18-17. The Blue Devils would hang on to take the set, 25-22, extending their lead in the match to 2-0. Shemanova's hitting percentage in the set was .462 with seven kills. She ended the afternoon with 18 kills in total.

Facing a sweep, the Orange cut the Duke lead to 2-1 by winning the third set, 25-19. With the score tied at 12, Syracuse went on a 4-0 run to open up a 16-12 lead. The Orange would go on another 4-0 run to push their lead to 21-14, putting the set out of reach for the Blue Devils. Saada paced the squad with five kills in the third frame, and posted a team-leading 19 kills in the match. Karakasi added another 10 assists and finished with 43.

Trailing 5-4 in the fourth set, Syracuse went on yet another 4-0 run to open up an 8-5 cushion thanks to kills from Markova and Saada. The stanza was back-and-forth from that point, until the Orange took a 19-16 lead on a Duke attack error. The Blue Devils won four consecutive points to go up 22-21, but 'Cuse earned the next three points and Lukacs capped off the set with a service ace to force a decisive fifth frame. Saada had seven kills in the fourth and Karakasi recorded 11 assists.

The teams exchanged points to begin the final set, until Duke won three straight points to take a 6-4 lead, which grew to 10-7. Shemanova provided two kills and the Orange leveled the score at 10. A 4-1 scoring run put the Blue Devils on top, 14-11, but Syracuse would take the next four points and a 15-14 lead. Duke came up with two consecutive kills and a block, ending the set, 17-15, and clinching the match.

NOTEWORTHY
Saada's 19 kills were the most for the Orange. It was the second straight match she paced the team in kills.

Karakasi's 43 assists were a career high for the sophomore setter, breaking her previous career high of 41 that she posted on Friday night. She also added a season-high 12 digs and six total blocks.

Lukacs returned from injury this weekend for the Orange, serving as libero in both matches. She tallied 10 digs and a career-high four service aces against Duke and 10 digs versus Wake Forest.

Shemanova had a career-high four service aces for Syracuse.

WHAT'S NEXT
The Orange home stand continues this Friday, Oct. 11, when they host current #4 Pittsburgh (15-1, 4-0 ACC) at 7 p.m. in the Women's Building. Admission and parking to the match are free. The match will be available for stream on ACC Network Extra.

Fans can only watch ACC Network Extra if their cable provider carries the ACC Network. Fans unsure if their provider carries ACCN are strongly encouraged to visit GetACCN.com

For continued coverage of Syracuse volleyball, follow us on Twitter (@CuseVB), Instagram (@cusevb) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Volleyball).