Friday, August 30
Syracuse, NY
11 a.m.
Syracuse University
vs
NJIT
Volleyball Co-Hosts Salt City Classic To Open 2024 Season
8/29/2024 9:30:00 AM | Volleyball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse University volleyball team begins its 2024 campaign this weekend in the Salt City Classic. Syracuse will co-host the event with Le Moyne on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 30-31.
The Orange will make their season debut on Friday with an 11 a.m. bout against NJIT at the Women's Building. They will return to their home floor that evening for a 7 p.m. match against Lafayette. Both of those contests will be streamed on ACCNX. On Saturday, 'Cuse will make the short trip to Le Moyne to conclude the tournament with a neutral-site match against Canisius at 7:30 p.m.
About the Orange
The Orange returns most of its production last season by way of its sophomore class. Greta Schlichter, Veronica Sierzant, Zharia Harris-Waddy and Mira Ledermueller accounted for 45% of the team's kills, 91% of assists, 63% of aces, 50% of digs and 55% of blocks last season, and all four are back for their sophomore campaigns.
The Orange welcome 12 newcomers to the 2024 roster, including nine transfers and three true freshmen. Several of the transfers made significant impacts at their previous schools, including Elizabeth Schuster (Oregon State and Cal State Fullerton), Anastasiia Nikolnikova (Southern Idaho), Ava Palm (Cal State Bakersfield and UTEP), Nikki Shimao (Temple) and Sydney Moore (Cornell).
Friday will mark the start of head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam's third season at the helm of the Orange. 'Cuse will open its season with four consecutive tournaments, beginning with this weekend's Salt City Classic end concluding with the Syracuse Invitational on Sept. 19-22.
Oh Captains, My Captains
Earlier this week, 'Cuse announced its three captains for the 2024 season – Shimao, Schuster and Klara Zarnovicka.
Zarnovicka is Syracuse's lone senior and the only captain that is a returner from last season. Before coming to 'Cuse, she spent two seasons at Florida Atlantic, where she ranked No. 10 in Conference USA in kills per set during the team's 2021 campaign.
Shimao and Schuster both join the Orange this season as grad transfers. Shimao spent four seasons at Temple, while Schuster had previous stints at Oregon State and Cal State Fullerton.
Scouting the Salt City Classic
The other teams participating in this weekend's tournament are Canisius, Lafayette, Le Moyne and NJIT. The only team the Orange will not play in the event is Le Moyne.
NJIT is coming off a 9-17 campaign that included a 1-9 record in America East play. They were picked to finish sixth in this year's America East preseason poll. The Highlanders return Sara Siefert, who was second on the team in kills a season ago. Also back for NJIT is Doga Emil, who led the team last season in digs (3.71/set), and Rowan Schreiber and Taylor West, who led the team in blocks with 76 and 60, respectively.
Lafayette went 9-15 in 2023, which included a 5-11 mark in Patriot League play. The Leopards were tabbed eighth in the Patriot League preseason poll. The Leopards will be without their leader in assists, digs and blocks from last season, but do return sophomore Emma Patmon, who paced the team with 171 kills (2.48/set) in 2023.
Canisius turned in a 10-16 record last season and went 8-10 in MAAC matches. The Golden Griffins were pegged to finish eighth in this year's MAAC preseason poll. The Golden Griffins return their leader in kills (Lauren Hubert), assists and aces (Ella Bourque), digs (Jillian Hanna) and blocks (Bella Mosquera) from a season ago.
Tournament Central
Parking and admission for Friday's matches at the Women's Building is free. In addition to Syracuse's two matches, there will be a neutral match at the Women's Building between NJIT and Canisius at 2 p.m. that will also be open to the public.
Syracuse's contest against NJIT (11 a.m.) on Friday will be the team's PJ Party. Students and fans are encouraged to wear their favorite slippers to the match. At the 7 p.m. match, attendees will receive free 'Cuse pom-poms to root on the Orange.
Syracuse vs. NJIT Briefing
Match Details: Aug. 30, 2024 | Syracuse, N.Y. | Women's Building | 11 a.m.
Live Video: ACCNX
Live Coverage: Stats
Twitter: @CuseVB
Instagram: @cusevb
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
NJIT Links: Roster | Schedule
Syracuse vs. Lafayette Briefing
Match Details: Aug. 30, 2024 | Syracuse, N.Y. | Women's Building | 7 p.m.
Live Video: ACCNX
Live Coverage: Stats
Twitter: @CuseVB
Instagram: @cusevb
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
Lafayette Links: Roster | Schedule
Syracuse vs. Canisius Briefing
Match Details: Aug. 31, 2024 | Syracuse, N.Y. | Ted Grant Court (@ Le Moyne) | 7:30 p.m.
Live Video: N/A
Live Coverage: Stats
Twitter: @CuseVB
Instagram: @cusevb
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
Canisius Links: Roster | Schedule
Up Next
Syracuse will head to New York City on Sept. 6-7 to compete in the Big Apple Tournament, which will be hosted by Columbia. The Orange will face Columbia and Fordham on Sept. 6 before taking on Manhattan on Sept. 7.
For the latest news on the Syracuse volleyball program, follow /CuseVB on Facebook, @CuseVB on Instagram, and @CuseVB on X/Twitter.
The Orange will make their season debut on Friday with an 11 a.m. bout against NJIT at the Women's Building. They will return to their home floor that evening for a 7 p.m. match against Lafayette. Both of those contests will be streamed on ACCNX. On Saturday, 'Cuse will make the short trip to Le Moyne to conclude the tournament with a neutral-site match against Canisius at 7:30 p.m.
About the Orange
The Orange returns most of its production last season by way of its sophomore class. Greta Schlichter, Veronica Sierzant, Zharia Harris-Waddy and Mira Ledermueller accounted for 45% of the team's kills, 91% of assists, 63% of aces, 50% of digs and 55% of blocks last season, and all four are back for their sophomore campaigns.
The Orange welcome 12 newcomers to the 2024 roster, including nine transfers and three true freshmen. Several of the transfers made significant impacts at their previous schools, including Elizabeth Schuster (Oregon State and Cal State Fullerton), Anastasiia Nikolnikova (Southern Idaho), Ava Palm (Cal State Bakersfield and UTEP), Nikki Shimao (Temple) and Sydney Moore (Cornell).
Friday will mark the start of head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam's third season at the helm of the Orange. 'Cuse will open its season with four consecutive tournaments, beginning with this weekend's Salt City Classic end concluding with the Syracuse Invitational on Sept. 19-22.
Oh Captains, My Captains
Earlier this week, 'Cuse announced its three captains for the 2024 season – Shimao, Schuster and Klara Zarnovicka.
Zarnovicka is Syracuse's lone senior and the only captain that is a returner from last season. Before coming to 'Cuse, she spent two seasons at Florida Atlantic, where she ranked No. 10 in Conference USA in kills per set during the team's 2021 campaign.
Shimao and Schuster both join the Orange this season as grad transfers. Shimao spent four seasons at Temple, while Schuster had previous stints at Oregon State and Cal State Fullerton.
Scouting the Salt City Classic
The other teams participating in this weekend's tournament are Canisius, Lafayette, Le Moyne and NJIT. The only team the Orange will not play in the event is Le Moyne.
NJIT is coming off a 9-17 campaign that included a 1-9 record in America East play. They were picked to finish sixth in this year's America East preseason poll. The Highlanders return Sara Siefert, who was second on the team in kills a season ago. Also back for NJIT is Doga Emil, who led the team last season in digs (3.71/set), and Rowan Schreiber and Taylor West, who led the team in blocks with 76 and 60, respectively.
Lafayette went 9-15 in 2023, which included a 5-11 mark in Patriot League play. The Leopards were tabbed eighth in the Patriot League preseason poll. The Leopards will be without their leader in assists, digs and blocks from last season, but do return sophomore Emma Patmon, who paced the team with 171 kills (2.48/set) in 2023.
Canisius turned in a 10-16 record last season and went 8-10 in MAAC matches. The Golden Griffins were pegged to finish eighth in this year's MAAC preseason poll. The Golden Griffins return their leader in kills (Lauren Hubert), assists and aces (Ella Bourque), digs (Jillian Hanna) and blocks (Bella Mosquera) from a season ago.
Tournament Central
Parking and admission for Friday's matches at the Women's Building is free. In addition to Syracuse's two matches, there will be a neutral match at the Women's Building between NJIT and Canisius at 2 p.m. that will also be open to the public.
Syracuse's contest against NJIT (11 a.m.) on Friday will be the team's PJ Party. Students and fans are encouraged to wear their favorite slippers to the match. At the 7 p.m. match, attendees will receive free 'Cuse pom-poms to root on the Orange.
Syracuse vs. NJIT Briefing
Match Details: Aug. 30, 2024 | Syracuse, N.Y. | Women's Building | 11 a.m.
Live Video: ACCNX
Live Coverage: Stats
Twitter: @CuseVB
Instagram: @cusevb
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
NJIT Links: Roster | Schedule
Syracuse vs. Lafayette Briefing
Match Details: Aug. 30, 2024 | Syracuse, N.Y. | Women's Building | 7 p.m.
Live Video: ACCNX
Live Coverage: Stats
Twitter: @CuseVB
Instagram: @cusevb
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
Lafayette Links: Roster | Schedule
Syracuse vs. Canisius Briefing
Match Details: Aug. 31, 2024 | Syracuse, N.Y. | Ted Grant Court (@ Le Moyne) | 7:30 p.m.
Live Video: N/A
Live Coverage: Stats
Twitter: @CuseVB
Instagram: @cusevb
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
Canisius Links: Roster | Schedule
Up Next
Syracuse will head to New York City on Sept. 6-7 to compete in the Big Apple Tournament, which will be hosted by Columbia. The Orange will face Columbia and Fordham on Sept. 6 before taking on Manhattan on Sept. 7.
For the latest news on the Syracuse volleyball program, follow /CuseVB on Facebook, @CuseVB on Instagram, and @CuseVB on X/Twitter.
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