Syracuse Drops ACC Home Opener To No. 17 SMU

Friday, October 4

Syracuse, NY

7 p.m.

Syracuse University

12-3,0-3ACC

No. 17 SMU

11-3,3-0ACC

SMU

Syracuse

10/4/2024 10:43:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse University volleyball team (12-3, 0-3 ACC) fell in its first ACC home match of the season Friday night at the Women's Building, as No. 17 SMU (11-3, 3-0 ACC) swept the Orange despite a resilient third-set comeback bid by 'Cuse.

HOW IT HAPPENED
SMU took control of the first set early and never looked back. The Mustangs led by as many as eight and were up 16-8 when the Orange went on a 5-0 run sparked by a pair of Veronica Sierzant aces that cut the lead to three. However, SMU answered by winning the next four points on their way to a 25-15 win.

The Mustangs galloped out to another early advantage in the second set, winning six of the first eight points. A block from Anastasiia Nikolnikova and Sydnie Waller brought the Orange back within one at 9-8, but SMU responded with a 4-0 run to go up five. The Mustangs closed the set by capturing four of the final five points to secure a 25-17 victory.

SMU won the first three points of the third and managed a slight lead throughout the opening stages of the frame. The Mustangs went on to build as large as an eight-point lead before Syracuse staged a late rally. Trailing 19-12, Syracuse got a side out via a Zharia Harris-Waddy Kill. With the sophomore as 'Cuse's next server, the Orange won the next four points, with an Ava Palm block cutting the SMU lead to just two. After a Mustangs point, Syracuse launched a 3-0 run to pull even at 20-20, with a block by Sierzant and Sydney Moore serving as the tying point. The teams traded the next two points before SMU won three in a row to set up match points. Skylar George erased the first with a kill, but the Mustangs converted with a kill on their second opportunity to pull out a 25-22 win and end the match.

NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS

Skylar George led the Orange with seven kills. Sara Wasiakowska had the second most with five.
Zharia Harris-Waddy made her fourth start of the season for Syracuse, registering three kills and a pair of aces.
Nikki Shimao and Ava Palm tied for a team-best seven digs.
After entering the match in the third set, Sydney Moore tallied two kills and two blocks to help lead Syracuse's comeback bid.
Veronica Sierzant paced 'Cuse with 13 assists. She also had a pair of aces.

UP NEXT
Syracuse will host its second straight ranked ACC opponent on Sunday, as No. 1 Pittsburgh will visit the Women's Building. The contest is slated for an 11 a.m. start and will be streamed on ACCNX.

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