Irish Down Orange, 3-1

Sunday, November 17

South Bend, Ind.

1 pm

Syracuse University

10-13,7-9ACC

Notre Dame

18-7,11-4ACC

Syracuse

Notre Dame

11/17/2019 4:47:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

SOUTH BEND, IND. – The luck stayed with the Irish on Sunday afternoon as Notre Dame (18-7, 11-4 ACC) topped Syracuse volleyball (10-13, 7-9 ACC) in four sets. The Irish won by scores of 25-17, 25-18 and 26-24. The Orange took the second frame, 26-24. Polina Shemanova's 21 kills and career-high 27 digs led 'Cuse.

With two losses this weekend, the Orange will have to earn program win #900 at home in one of the two remaining matches. Head coach Leonid Yelin remains at 598 career wins.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The opening game was tight at the start, as the teams put together small scoring runs but were eventually tied up at seven. Notre Dame rattled off three straight points and Syracuse answered with three of its own to knot the score at 10. The Irish would score nine of the next 10 points to open a 19-11 lead. The Orange narrowed the margin to four but Notre Dame ended the set on a 5-1 tear and took a 1-0 lead in the contest. Elena Karakasi and Shemanova each provided two kills while Ella Saada led the way with three in the stanza.

After going ahead 8-6 to begin the second frame, the Irish converted the next six points and had a 12-8 advantage. 'Cuse answered with six consecutive points of its own, Shemanova and Saada contributing five kills combined during that span. The Orange were on top 18-14, but the Irish came storming back, eventually tying the score at 21. It took 26 points, but Syracuse evened the match on a Notre Dame attack error.

The Orange fell behind early in the third set, 11-5, and were never able to climb out of the hole. Despite an 8-3 Syracuse run to make the score 20-17, the Irish won five of the next six points to take the pivotal set and a 2-1 lead in the match. Six of Shemanova's kills came in the third.

'Cuse went down early in the fourth set as well, 13-6, but never quit. It took three separate 4-0 scoring runs but the Orange tied the scoring at 24, fighting off four Notre Dame match points. A kill from Irish sophomore Charley Niego sealed the victory for her team.

NOTEWORTHY
Shemanova's 27 digs were the most by a Syracuse player in a match all season. That in addition to her 21 kills gave the sophomore her 11^th double-double of the season.

The Orange posted 15.5 total blocks in the game, tied for second most all season. Abby Casiano's seven blocks against the Irish were the most, while Izzy Plummer had six and Shemanova added five.

Karakasi passed 700 assists on the season. She had 27 on the afternoon and now sits at 718 for the 2019 campaign.

WHAT'S NEXT
Syracuse will finish the season with two matches at home, the first being next Sunday, Nov. 24 against Boston College. The action starts at 1 p.m. and fans can watch on ACC Network Extra.

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