Thursday, September 12
Loudonville, NY
5:30 p.m.
Syracuse University
at
Siena
Unbeaten Orange Set For Siena Saints Invitational
9/11/2024 4:43:00 PM | Volleyball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Off to its best start since 2021, the Syracuse University volleyball (6-0) team will put its unbeaten record on the line this weekend at the Siena Saints Invitational.
Siena is hosting the tournament at the UHY Center from Sept. 12-14. The Orange will face the Saints on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. before battling NJIT on Friday at 2:30 p.m. in a rematch from the Salt City Classic. To close out the event, the Orange will take on Idaho on Saturday at 4 p.m. All three matches will be streamed on Siena All-Access.
About the Orange
Syracuse has won all six of its matches this season and is 18-3 in sets. Last weekend, the Orange competed at the Big Apple Tournament in New York City and took home victories against Columbia, Fordham and Manhattan.
Through the opening two weekends of the season, 'Cuse has been effective both offensively and defensively. The Orange rank No. 3 in the ACC in hitting percentage (.288) and are No. 2 in opponent hitting percentage (.108). Syracuse is also averaging the third most blocks in the conference (2.98/set) and has the most aces as a team (57).
Ava Palm has been Syracuse's top offensive option in 2024, as the graduate student has a team-best 82 kills and sits No. 5 in the conference in kills per set (3.90). Skylar George (57) and Sydney Moore (43) have also been focal points of the Orange offense. Defensively, Moore is leading the way with 28 blocks, while freshman Emma Ortiz is pacing the Orange in digs (50).
AIR AVA
Graduate transfer Ava Palm led the Orange in kills at the Big Apple Tournament after doing the same to open the season at the Salt City Classic. In Syracuse's win over Fordham, Palm came within one kill of a career high with 19. Palm had her most efficient match of the event against Columbia, as she tallied 11 kills on just 24 attacks (.375 hitting percentage)
Palm has led the Orange in kills in five of the team's six matches this season and has registered double-digit kills in all six contests. Through the opening two weeks of the season, Palm's 82 kills lead the Orange and her 3.90 kills per set rank No. 5 in the ACC.
BLOCK PARTY
The Syracuse front line has been a force throughout the opening two tournaments of the season, as the Orange currently rank No. 3 in the ACC in blocks per set (2.98). Syracuse has at least nine blocks in five of its six matches this season and has notched double-digit rejections on three occasions.
'Cuse's season high in blocks (15) came in its opening match against NJIT, who the Orange will play at this weekend's Siena Saints Invitational. Sydney Moore led Syracuse against the Highlanders in that match with eight blocks.
Six Syracuse players reached double-digit blocks this season - Moore (28) Anastasiia Nikolnikova (16), Ava Palm (16), Sara Wasiakowska (14), Zharia Harris-Waddy (11) and Skylar George (11).
MIRA DOUBLES DOWN
Mira Ledermueller made her first three starts of the season at setter during the Big Apple Tournament and stuffed the stat sheet for the Orange. Ledermueller opened the event with a 29-assist effort against Columbia. Against Fordham, she followed up that performance with the third double-double of her career, which featured career bests in both assists (43) and digs (16). The 43 assists were the most in a match by a Syracuse setter since Elena Karakasi had 58 against Florida State on Oct. 31, 2021.
In Syracuse's next match against Manhattan, Ledermueller tallied the fourth double-double of her career and her second straight, as the sophomore finished with 30 assists and 10 digs against the Jaspers. Ledermueller is the first 'Cuse player to record double-doubles in back-to-back matches since Polina Shemanova did so against North Carolina and Clemson in Oct. 2022.
During Syracuse's three matches at the Big Apple Tournament, Ledermueller averaged 9.27 assists per set and guided the 'Cuse offense to consecutive 40+ kill efforts as a team.
SKY MONEY
Skylar George continued her strong play for the Orange during the Big Apple Tournament.
For the first time this season, George paced the Orange in kills in the team's victory against Columbia. Her 13 kills against Manhattan were also a career high.
Against the Jaspers, George also registered her second double-double of the season, as she pitched in a team-best 11 digs. George and Ledermueller's double-doubles against Manhattan marked the first time multiple Syracuse players have recorded a double-double in the same match since Oct. 28, 2022.
George posted double-digit kills in all three of Syracuse's matches at the Big Apple Tournament and has now reached that threshold in four out of the last five matches.
The outside hitter is currently second on the team in kills (57) and her 2.71 kills per set trail only Palm.
George's serve was also lethal at the Big Apple Tournament, as she hit eight aces in Syracuse's three matches. Her five against Manhattan tied the most by a 'Cuse player in a match this season. George's 11 aces this season are the second most on the team.
In addition to her offensive prowess, George has been consistent defensively as well, as her 39 digs rank No. 3 on the team. She is also one of six 'Cuse players with double-digit blocks on the campaign.
WE WANT MOORE
Sydney Moore has been Syracuse's top option up front this season and has led a strong front line through the team's first two tournaments of the season.
Moore's 28 blocks lead the Orange and her 1.33 blocks per set rank No. 3 in the ACC
Moore led Syracuse's block against Manhattan in the final match of the Big Apple Tournament with seven rejections. It was her third match this season with at least five blocks.
In addition to her defensive presence in 'Cuse's front row, Moore has been a steady contributor to the Orange offense this season. Through the opening two weeks of the season, Moore is No. 3 in the ACC in hitting percentage (.467). Her 43 kills are the third most on the team. Moore was especially ruthless in Syracuse's win over Manhattan, as she converted eight of her 11 swings into kills and finished with a .636 hitting percentage.
EFFICIENT OFFENSE
Syracuse's offense has been efficient through the opening two tournaments of the season.
The Orange currently rank No. 3 in the ACC in hitting percentage (.288) while averaging 12.48 kills per set.
For the first time since the 2021 season and the first time under head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam, Syracuse hit over .300 as a team in four consecutive matches, a stretch that started with the team's season opener against NJIT and extended through 'Cuse's match against Columbia.
'Cuse opened the season by hitting .320 with 35 kills in its win against NJIT. The Orange followed that by hitting .330 later that evening in a win over Lafayette.
Against Canisius, Syracuse hit .376, its best in a match as a team since hitting .398 against South Alabama on Sept. 19, 2021. Syracuse's 44 kills against Canisius were the most for the team in a three-set match since Sept. 3, 2022, when the Orange had 46 in a win against North Florida.
COMING UP ACES
Aces have been big for Syracuse so far this season, especially in the team's most recent victory against Manhattan. 'Cuse's 15 aces against the Jaspers were the most in a match for the Orange since they hit 16 on Sept. 23, 2016, against Boston College.
Sara Wasiakowska and Skylar George tied for a team-best five aces against the Jaspers. The five aces by both were the most a Syracuse player has hit in a match this season.
Syracuse's 57 aces this season are 13 more than the second-place team in the ACC. 'Cuse's 2.71 aces per set trail only Pittsburgh in the conference.
SUPER SARA
Sara Wasiakowska has been a force on both offense and defense for the Orange.
Wasiakowska hit a career-best five aces in Syracuse's victory against Manhattan. She also had eight and seven digs against Columbia and Fordham in the Big Apple Tournament, respectively. The eight digs were a career best.
The right-side hitter's 13 aces lead the Orange and her 38 kills are the fourth most on the team. She also ranks No. 4 on the team in digs (29) and No. 4 in blocks (14).
OH CAPTAINS, MY CAPTAINS
'Cuse will have three captains in 2024 – Klara Zarnovicka, Nikki Shimao and Elizabeth Schuster.
Zarnovicka is Syracuse's lone senior and 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 and Schuster had previous stints at Oregon State and Cal State Fullerton.
SCOUTING THE SIENA SAINTS INVITATIONAL
Siena will host the Siena Saints Invitational on Sept. 12-14 at the UHY Center. NJIT and Idaho are competing in the event along with Siena and Syracuse.
Siena enters its home tournament with a 1-5 record. The Saints went 1-2 at the Skyhawk Invitational to begin the season, which included their lone win over Stonehill, before going 0-3 at last weekend's Red Flash Classic. Sara Wagner leads Siena in kills (75) and kills per set (3.13). She has double-digit kills in five straight contests. Olga Sawinska is second on the team with 52 kills. Oliwia Majtyka (80) and Alandra Hasbrouck (67) lead the Saints in assists this season. Defensively, three Saints players are averaging at least two digs per set - Amelia Robertson (2.35), Grace Wilhelm (2.30) and Wagner (2.04). Wagner's 49 digs lead the team. Sina Toroslu leads the Saints with 14 blocks on the season. The Saints lead the MAAC in service aces with 46. Wagner leads the team with 11 over Toroslu, who has 10. Siena also ranks No. 3 in the conference in hitting percentage (.150).
Syracuse Series vs. Siena | Syracuse leads, 24-2 | Last meeting: Win 3-0, Aug. 25, 2015
NJIT comes into the event with a 2-7 mark on the season. One of those losses came on Aug. 30 against Syracuse, a match the Orange won 3-0 at the Women's Building. In that match, Syracuse hit .320 as a team with 35 kills. Ava Palm had 13 of those kills to pace the Orange. 'Cuse also put down a season-high 15 blocks, led by Sydney Moore's eight. Syracuse held the Highlanders to a -.128 hitting percentage and just 16 kills. Ema Torres (74) and Sara Siefert (72) lead the Highlanders in kills this season. Finley McAndrew and Cece Marino have split the setting duties for NJIT so far this season and have 168 and 105 assists, respectively. Ines Varela leads the America East Conference blocks this season with 46. Doga Emil is pacing NJIT with 109 digs (3.21/set).
Syracuse Series vs. NJIT | Syracuse leads, 1-0 | Last meeting: Win 3-0, Aug. 30, 2024
Idaho is currently 0-6 on the season after going 0-3 at both the Betty Austin Invitational and the Southern Utah Tournament. Zuzanna Wieczorek leads the Vandals with 49 kills this season (2.72/set). Natalia Wielgus is Idaho's leading setter with 75 assists (4.41/set). On defense, Idaho is led by Ada Isik, whose 3.11 digs per set rank No. 9 in the Big Sky Conference. Emma Patterson is Idaho's only player with double-digit blocks this season (13).
Syracuse Series vs. Idaho | First Meeting
Syracuse vs. Siena Briefing
Match Details: Sept. 12, 2024 | Loudonville, N.Y. | UHY Center | 5:30 p.m.
Live Video: Siena All-Access
Live Coverage: Stats
Twitter: @CuseVB
Instagram: @cusevb
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
Siena Links: Roster | Schedule
Syracuse vs. NJIT Briefing
Match Details: Sept. 13, 2024 | Loudonville, N.Y. | UHY Center | 2:30 p.m.
Live Video: Siena All-Access
Live Coverage: Stats
Twitter: @CuseVB
Instagram: @cusevb
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
NJIT Links: Roster | Schedule
Syracuse vs. Idaho Briefing
Match Details: Sept. 14, 2024 | Loudonville, N.Y. | UHY Center | 4 p.m.
Live Video: Siena All-Access
Live Coverage: Stats
Twitter: @CuseVB
Instagram: @cusevb
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
Idaho Links: Roster | Schedule
Up Next
'Cuse will host its second tournament of the season on Sept. 19-22 at the Women's Building. The Orange will open against Le Moyne on Sept. 19 before facing Iowa State on Sept. 21 and Cornell on Sept. 22.
For the latest news on the Syracuse volleyball program, follow /CuseVB on Facebook, @CuseVB on Instagram, and @CuseVB on X/Twitter.
Siena is hosting the tournament at the UHY Center from Sept. 12-14. The Orange will face the Saints on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. before battling NJIT on Friday at 2:30 p.m. in a rematch from the Salt City Classic. To close out the event, the Orange will take on Idaho on Saturday at 4 p.m. All three matches will be streamed on Siena All-Access.
About the Orange
Syracuse has won all six of its matches this season and is 18-3 in sets. Last weekend, the Orange competed at the Big Apple Tournament in New York City and took home victories against Columbia, Fordham and Manhattan.
Through the opening two weekends of the season, 'Cuse has been effective both offensively and defensively. The Orange rank No. 3 in the ACC in hitting percentage (.288) and are No. 2 in opponent hitting percentage (.108). Syracuse is also averaging the third most blocks in the conference (2.98/set) and has the most aces as a team (57).
Ava Palm has been Syracuse's top offensive option in 2024, as the graduate student has a team-best 82 kills and sits No. 5 in the conference in kills per set (3.90). Skylar George (57) and Sydney Moore (43) have also been focal points of the Orange offense. Defensively, Moore is leading the way with 28 blocks, while freshman Emma Ortiz is pacing the Orange in digs (50).
AIR AVA
Graduate transfer Ava Palm led the Orange in kills at the Big Apple Tournament after doing the same to open the season at the Salt City Classic. In Syracuse's win over Fordham, Palm came within one kill of a career high with 19. Palm had her most efficient match of the event against Columbia, as she tallied 11 kills on just 24 attacks (.375 hitting percentage)
Palm has led the Orange in kills in five of the team's six matches this season and has registered double-digit kills in all six contests. Through the opening two weeks of the season, Palm's 82 kills lead the Orange and her 3.90 kills per set rank No. 5 in the ACC.
BLOCK PARTY
The Syracuse front line has been a force throughout the opening two tournaments of the season, as the Orange currently rank No. 3 in the ACC in blocks per set (2.98). Syracuse has at least nine blocks in five of its six matches this season and has notched double-digit rejections on three occasions.
'Cuse's season high in blocks (15) came in its opening match against NJIT, who the Orange will play at this weekend's Siena Saints Invitational. Sydney Moore led Syracuse against the Highlanders in that match with eight blocks.
Six Syracuse players reached double-digit blocks this season - Moore (28) Anastasiia Nikolnikova (16), Ava Palm (16), Sara Wasiakowska (14), Zharia Harris-Waddy (11) and Skylar George (11).
MIRA DOUBLES DOWN
Mira Ledermueller made her first three starts of the season at setter during the Big Apple Tournament and stuffed the stat sheet for the Orange. Ledermueller opened the event with a 29-assist effort against Columbia. Against Fordham, she followed up that performance with the third double-double of her career, which featured career bests in both assists (43) and digs (16). The 43 assists were the most in a match by a Syracuse setter since Elena Karakasi had 58 against Florida State on Oct. 31, 2021.
In Syracuse's next match against Manhattan, Ledermueller tallied the fourth double-double of her career and her second straight, as the sophomore finished with 30 assists and 10 digs against the Jaspers. Ledermueller is the first 'Cuse player to record double-doubles in back-to-back matches since Polina Shemanova did so against North Carolina and Clemson in Oct. 2022.
During Syracuse's three matches at the Big Apple Tournament, Ledermueller averaged 9.27 assists per set and guided the 'Cuse offense to consecutive 40+ kill efforts as a team.
SKY MONEY
Skylar George continued her strong play for the Orange during the Big Apple Tournament.
For the first time this season, George paced the Orange in kills in the team's victory against Columbia. Her 13 kills against Manhattan were also a career high.
Against the Jaspers, George also registered her second double-double of the season, as she pitched in a team-best 11 digs. George and Ledermueller's double-doubles against Manhattan marked the first time multiple Syracuse players have recorded a double-double in the same match since Oct. 28, 2022.
George posted double-digit kills in all three of Syracuse's matches at the Big Apple Tournament and has now reached that threshold in four out of the last five matches.
The outside hitter is currently second on the team in kills (57) and her 2.71 kills per set trail only Palm.
George's serve was also lethal at the Big Apple Tournament, as she hit eight aces in Syracuse's three matches. Her five against Manhattan tied the most by a 'Cuse player in a match this season. George's 11 aces this season are the second most on the team.
In addition to her offensive prowess, George has been consistent defensively as well, as her 39 digs rank No. 3 on the team. She is also one of six 'Cuse players with double-digit blocks on the campaign.
WE WANT MOORE
Sydney Moore has been Syracuse's top option up front this season and has led a strong front line through the team's first two tournaments of the season.
Moore's 28 blocks lead the Orange and her 1.33 blocks per set rank No. 3 in the ACC
Moore led Syracuse's block against Manhattan in the final match of the Big Apple Tournament with seven rejections. It was her third match this season with at least five blocks.
In addition to her defensive presence in 'Cuse's front row, Moore has been a steady contributor to the Orange offense this season. Through the opening two weeks of the season, Moore is No. 3 in the ACC in hitting percentage (.467). Her 43 kills are the third most on the team. Moore was especially ruthless in Syracuse's win over Manhattan, as she converted eight of her 11 swings into kills and finished with a .636 hitting percentage.
EFFICIENT OFFENSE
Syracuse's offense has been efficient through the opening two tournaments of the season.
The Orange currently rank No. 3 in the ACC in hitting percentage (.288) while averaging 12.48 kills per set.
For the first time since the 2021 season and the first time under head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam, Syracuse hit over .300 as a team in four consecutive matches, a stretch that started with the team's season opener against NJIT and extended through 'Cuse's match against Columbia.
'Cuse opened the season by hitting .320 with 35 kills in its win against NJIT. The Orange followed that by hitting .330 later that evening in a win over Lafayette.
Against Canisius, Syracuse hit .376, its best in a match as a team since hitting .398 against South Alabama on Sept. 19, 2021. Syracuse's 44 kills against Canisius were the most for the team in a three-set match since Sept. 3, 2022, when the Orange had 46 in a win against North Florida.
COMING UP ACES
Aces have been big for Syracuse so far this season, especially in the team's most recent victory against Manhattan. 'Cuse's 15 aces against the Jaspers were the most in a match for the Orange since they hit 16 on Sept. 23, 2016, against Boston College.
Sara Wasiakowska and Skylar George tied for a team-best five aces against the Jaspers. The five aces by both were the most a Syracuse player has hit in a match this season.
Syracuse's 57 aces this season are 13 more than the second-place team in the ACC. 'Cuse's 2.71 aces per set trail only Pittsburgh in the conference.
SUPER SARA
Sara Wasiakowska has been a force on both offense and defense for the Orange.
Wasiakowska hit a career-best five aces in Syracuse's victory against Manhattan. She also had eight and seven digs against Columbia and Fordham in the Big Apple Tournament, respectively. The eight digs were a career best.
The right-side hitter's 13 aces lead the Orange and her 38 kills are the fourth most on the team. She also ranks No. 4 on the team in digs (29) and No. 4 in blocks (14).
OH CAPTAINS, MY CAPTAINS
'Cuse will have three captains in 2024 – Klara Zarnovicka, Nikki Shimao and Elizabeth Schuster.
Zarnovicka is Syracuse's lone senior and 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 and Schuster had previous stints at Oregon State and Cal State Fullerton.
SCOUTING THE SIENA SAINTS INVITATIONAL
Siena will host the Siena Saints Invitational on Sept. 12-14 at the UHY Center. NJIT and Idaho are competing in the event along with Siena and Syracuse.
Siena enters its home tournament with a 1-5 record. The Saints went 1-2 at the Skyhawk Invitational to begin the season, which included their lone win over Stonehill, before going 0-3 at last weekend's Red Flash Classic. Sara Wagner leads Siena in kills (75) and kills per set (3.13). She has double-digit kills in five straight contests. Olga Sawinska is second on the team with 52 kills. Oliwia Majtyka (80) and Alandra Hasbrouck (67) lead the Saints in assists this season. Defensively, three Saints players are averaging at least two digs per set - Amelia Robertson (2.35), Grace Wilhelm (2.30) and Wagner (2.04). Wagner's 49 digs lead the team. Sina Toroslu leads the Saints with 14 blocks on the season. The Saints lead the MAAC in service aces with 46. Wagner leads the team with 11 over Toroslu, who has 10. Siena also ranks No. 3 in the conference in hitting percentage (.150).
Syracuse Series vs. Siena | Syracuse leads, 24-2 | Last meeting: Win 3-0, Aug. 25, 2015
NJIT comes into the event with a 2-7 mark on the season. One of those losses came on Aug. 30 against Syracuse, a match the Orange won 3-0 at the Women's Building. In that match, Syracuse hit .320 as a team with 35 kills. Ava Palm had 13 of those kills to pace the Orange. 'Cuse also put down a season-high 15 blocks, led by Sydney Moore's eight. Syracuse held the Highlanders to a -.128 hitting percentage and just 16 kills. Ema Torres (74) and Sara Siefert (72) lead the Highlanders in kills this season. Finley McAndrew and Cece Marino have split the setting duties for NJIT so far this season and have 168 and 105 assists, respectively. Ines Varela leads the America East Conference blocks this season with 46. Doga Emil is pacing NJIT with 109 digs (3.21/set).
Syracuse Series vs. NJIT | Syracuse leads, 1-0 | Last meeting: Win 3-0, Aug. 30, 2024
Idaho is currently 0-6 on the season after going 0-3 at both the Betty Austin Invitational and the Southern Utah Tournament. Zuzanna Wieczorek leads the Vandals with 49 kills this season (2.72/set). Natalia Wielgus is Idaho's leading setter with 75 assists (4.41/set). On defense, Idaho is led by Ada Isik, whose 3.11 digs per set rank No. 9 in the Big Sky Conference. Emma Patterson is Idaho's only player with double-digit blocks this season (13).
Syracuse Series vs. Idaho | First Meeting
Syracuse vs. Siena Briefing
Match Details: Sept. 12, 2024 | Loudonville, N.Y. | UHY Center | 5:30 p.m.
Live Video: Siena All-Access
Live Coverage: Stats
Twitter: @CuseVB
Instagram: @cusevb
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
Siena Links: Roster | Schedule
Syracuse vs. NJIT Briefing
Match Details: Sept. 13, 2024 | Loudonville, N.Y. | UHY Center | 2:30 p.m.
Live Video: Siena All-Access
Live Coverage: Stats
Twitter: @CuseVB
Instagram: @cusevb
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
NJIT Links: Roster | Schedule
Syracuse vs. Idaho Briefing
Match Details: Sept. 14, 2024 | Loudonville, N.Y. | UHY Center | 4 p.m.
Live Video: Siena All-Access
Live Coverage: Stats
Twitter: @CuseVB
Instagram: @cusevb
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
Idaho Links: Roster | Schedule
Up Next
'Cuse will host its second tournament of the season on Sept. 19-22 at the Women's Building. The Orange will open against Le Moyne on Sept. 19 before facing Iowa State on Sept. 21 and Cornell on Sept. 22.
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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