Orange Beat Clemson in Five

Sunday, March 7

Syracuse, N.Y.

12 PM

Syracuse University

5-5,5-5ACC

Clemson

10-7,4-6ACC

Clemson

Syracuse

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

3/7/2021 5:16:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery Box Score

Junior Elena Karakasi took a pass from freshman Lauren Hogan at the net and put away a kill for match point in Syracuse's 3-2 win against Clemson. The Orange won the fifth set 16-14, scoring the final two points after head coach Leonid Yelin called a timeout with the set tied at 14. Syracuse (5-5 overall, 5-5 ACC) won the first two sets and then Clemson (10-7, 4-6) fought back to win sets three and four to force the fifth.

"Is it good for our team to have a match like this? Yes, especially if you're winning," Yelin said. "It just helps us to be in game situations. And of course, psychologically, winning helps too. It really hurt us on Friday (losing to UNC 3-2). In the end today we had the exact same situation (as the UNC match). It was 14-12 and they tied up. To be honest, in that time I'm thinking, no way the same thing can happen two times in a row. Good for the kids that they found a way to pull it off."

Sophomore Viktoriia Lokhmanchuk and freshman Naomi Franco turned in career performances in the win. Lokhmanchuk led the Orange with a career-high 17 kills and added 12 digs, while Franco had a career-high 15 kills and four blocks. Karakasi finished the match with 40 assists, 15 digs, five kills and three blocks.

The first two sets were even with neither team opening more than a five point advantage. The Orange held off late Clemson rallies in the both sets to take a 2-0 lead in the match. In the third set, the Tigers opened a 9-2 lead and maintained the advantage to win 25-20. Clemson tied the match with a 25-17 win in the fourth set. In the deciding set, the score was tied five times and neither team led by more than two points. With the score tied at 14, Syracuse sophomore Izzy Plummer and Franco combined on a block to give the Orange a 15-14 lead and then Karakasi closed the match with a kill.

Syracuse will travel to play Miami and Virginia next weekend in Miami. The Orange will play Miami on Friday (3/12) at 5 pm and will face Virginia on Saturday (3/13) at 3 pm.

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