Volleyball Comes Up Short in ACC Opener

Friday, September 27

Atlanta, GA

7 pm

Syracuse University

3-5,0-1ACC

Georgia Tech

8-4,1-0ACC

Syracuse

Georgia Tech

9/27/2019 11:05:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

ATLANTA, GA. – Conference play for the Syracuse volleyball team (3-5) began with a loss at Georgia Tech (8-5) Friday night. The Orange were bested by the Yellow Jackets in four sets, winning only the third by a score of 25-17. Syracuse had not lost a regular season match to open up Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play since 2014 prior to tonight.

Captain Polina Shemanova paced the Orange in kills with 17. Sophomore setter Elena Karakasi contributed 26 assists, while three different members of the Syracuse squad had six digs (Ella Saada, Shemanova, Karakasi).

HOW IT HAPPENED
Two quick service aces and three Orange service errors propelled Georgia Tech to an early 10-6 lead in the first set. A kill from junior Yuliia Yastrub cut the deficit in half for Syracuse, but a 6-1 run from the Yellow Jackets put the set out of reach. Georgia Tech would win the set 25 -17. Early-season freshman standout Marina Markova led the Orange with four kills in the opening frame.

Kills from Markova and Shemanova helped put Syracuse in the lead, 8-5, to begin the second set. The Yellow Jackets responded with a 4-1 run to level the score at nine. From there Georgia Tech went on a 16-1 tear, registering nine kills in that span, to take the set and a 2-0 lead in the match.

The Orange started hot in the third set, grabbing a quick 5-0 advantage out of the gate. Syracuse continued its strong play throughout the frame, leading by as many as 10 points. The Orange avoided the sweep, winning the set, 25-17. Five different 'Cuse players provided kills in the third stanza (Abby Casiano, Shemanova, Saada, Markova, Karakasi) and Karakasi added a service ace.

The Orange fell behind early in the fourth set, as seven kills gave the Yellow Jackets an early 9-3 advantage. Syracuse cut their lead to 9-7, but Georgia Tech put together a 16-5 run to take the match, 3-1.

BY THE NUMBERS
KILLS: Syracuse 41, Georgia Tech 47
ACES: Syracuse 2, Georgia Tech 6
BLOCKS: Syracuse 4, Georgia Tech 5
ASSISTS: Syracuse 36, Georgia Tech 41
DIGS: Syracuse 28, Georgia Tech 34

WHAT'S NEXT
The Orange play the second match of their ACC slate this coming Sunday, Sept. 29, at Clemson. First serve is set for 1 p.m. This is the last of a nine match road stretch for Syracuse before its home opener on Oct. 4.

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