Saada Leads Orange to Weekend Sweep

Saturday, October 17

Syracuse, N.Y.

5 PM

Syracuse University

4-4,4-4ACC

Boston College

0-6,0-6ACC

Boston College

Syracuse

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

10/17/2020 7:44:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

The 14th-ranked Syracuse Orange completed the sweep of Boston College with a 3-0 victory on Saturday to win both matches in the weekend series. Senior Ella Saada matched her season-high with 13 kills, and added 10 digs, while sophomore Marina Markova recorded a season-best 14 kills and had four blocks, to lead Syracuse (4-4 overall, 4-4 ACC). The Orange won the first and second sets, 25-12 and 25-9, and then held off Boston College (0-6, 0-6) in a third set 25-20 victory.

Markova sparked the Orange to a 12-6 lead in the first set with three kills and teamed with setter Elena Karakasi on a block. After Karakasi recorded two kills in an 11-6 Orange run, sophomore Viktoriia Lokhmanchuk closed the first set with a service ace for the 25-12 Orange win.

Syracuse opened the second set with six kills, including two each from Markova and Saada, to take a 7-1 lead and force a BC timeout. Then Saada took over with four kills in a stretch that gave the Orange a 17-6 advantage. Senior Dana Gardner recorded a kill and freshman Lauren Hogan served back-to-back aces to propel the Orange to a 25-9 set two win.

In the third set, the Orange and BC battled to a 15-15 tie before Saada put away four kills to give the Orange a 19-16 lead. After the Eagles pulled to within two, 21-19, Markova registered back-to-back kills to make the score 23-19 and force a BC timeout. Karakasi closed the match with a kill.

Karakasi had 32 assists in the win, giving her 1,242 in her career, which is 10th on the Orange all-time record list. She is averaging 7.8 assists per set in her career, which also ranks 10th in Syracuse history.

For all of the latest information on Syracuse volleyball, follow us on Facebook (CuseVB), Twitter (@CuseVB), and Instagram (@cusevb).

Syracuse University Athletics remains committed to doing everything it can to support and protect the health, safety and well-being of our student-athletes, our staff and the campus and Syracuse communities. All decisions will be science-based and informed by public health and guidance as provided by county, state and public health officials.

If fans are permitted to attend games – in some capacity – Syracuse Athletics will announce plans for spectators to secure admission to the events. Fans will be required to sit in their socially-distanced seat locations and wear a face covering.