Friday, September 27
Chapel Hill, NC
7 p.m.
Syracuse University
at
North Carolina
Unbeaten Orange Open ACC Play This Weekend
9/26/2024 11:09:00 AM | Volleyball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The undefeated Syracuse University volleyball team (12-0) travels to the state of North Carolina this weekend for its first two ACC matches of the season against North Carolina and Duke on Sept. 27 and 29, respectively.
The Orange first go to Chapel Hill to play North Carolina on Friday at 7 p.m. 'Cuse will then travel north to compete against Duke in Durham on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both matches will be streamed live on ACCNX.
Unbeaten Orange
At 12-0, Syracuse is off to its best start as a program since 2010 (17-0). The Orange finished non-conference play undefeated for the first time since that 2010 campaign. Syracuse is one of seven remaining unbeaten teams in the country and one of two undefeated ACC teams left, along with No. 1 ranked Pittsburgh.
The Orange went 3-0 at last weekend's Syracuse Invitational with wins over Le Moyne, Iowa State and Cornell. Syracuse's five-set victory over Iowa State was the team's first five-setter since Oct. 16, 2022, against North Carolina.
'Cuse also went 3-0 at the Salt City Classic, Big Apple Tournament and Siena Saints Invitational earlier this season.
MVP! MVP! MVP!
Graduate transfer Ava Palm was selected as the MVP of last weekend's Syracuse Invitational, her second tournament MVP honor of the season, with the other coming at the Salt City Classic.
Palm delivered the first double-double of her Syracuse career against Iowa State with 16 kills and 10 digs. She added 16 more kills and nine more digs against Cornell. She also hit 10 aces during the event, five of which came against Le Moyne.
Palm's 155 kills are the third most in the ACC this season. Palm has led the Orange in kills in all but three matches this season and has tallied double-digit kills in all but two contests.
In addition to her dynamic hitting, Palm has also stuffed the stat sheet defensively, as her 86 digs trail only Emma Ortiz for the team lead.
Block Party
The Syracuse front line has been a force throughout the opening three tournaments of the season, as the Orange currently rank No. 4 in the ACC in blocks per set (2.68).
Syracuse has at least nine blocks in seven matches this season and has notched double-digit rejections on five occasions, including in two of the last three contests.
Anastasiia Nikolnikova is pacing the Orange with 47 blocks on the season, with Sydney Moore close behind at 42. Nikolnikova's 1.57 blocks per set are the second most in the ACC.
Spreading the Wealth
Mira Ledermueller and Veronica Sierzant have been a steady tandem at setter this season for the Orange.
Ledermueller has made a team-high eight starts this season. The sophomore has tallied 25+ assists seven times and has three double-doubles, with the most recent coming against Iowa State (38 assists, 10 digs). She currently leads the team with 9.00 assists per set.
At the Syracuse Invitational, Ledermueller racked up 30+ assists in each of the team's wins against Le Moyne and Iowa State. Ledermueller currently leads the Orange with 261 assists and sits No. 7 in the ACC in assists per set with 9.00.
Sierzant took over the setting duties in both of Syracuse's wins against Iowa State and Cornell. She tallied 27 assists against the Big Red.
Sky Money
Skylar George has created a dynamic duo with fellow outside Ava Palm so far this season. The redshirt freshman registered the third double-double of her career against Iowa State, as she racked up 10 kills and 10 digs in the victory.
George has reached double-digit digs four times this season, and her 79 digs are the third most on the team. George has also posted double-digit kills in five of Syracuse's last nine matches. Her 10 kills against Iowa State snapped a three-match streak without reaching double-digits.
The outside hitter is currently second on the team in kills (107) and her 2.61 kills per set trail only Palm for the most on the Orange. George's serve has also been a weapon this season, as her 17 aces also trail only Palm for the most on the team.
We Want Moore
For the third time this season, Sydney Moore earned All-Tournament billing last weekend, as she received the honor at the Syracuse Invitational to go along with receiving it at both the Salt City Classic and Siena Saints Invitational.
Moore's 42 blocks are the second most on the Orange this season. Moore is one of just two 'Cuse players averaging over a block per set, along with Anastasiia Nikolnikova.
In addition to her defensive presence in 'Cuse's front row, Moore has also been a steady contributor to the Orange offense this season and is one of the most efficient hitters in the ACC. Through the opening month of the season, Moore is No. 6 in the ACC in hitting percentage (.405). Her 75 kills are the third most on the team. Moore has hit .500 in three matches this season and has hit at least .700 on two occasions.
Through Syracuse's first four tournaments this season, Moore is one of just four Orange players to start every match, along with Ava Palm, Greta Schlichter and Emma Ortiz.
Efficient Offense
Syracuse's offense was efficient throughout non-conference play. The Orange currently rank No. 7 in the ACC in hitting percentage (.263) while averaging 13.00 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. The Orange have hit over .300 five times this season, most recently against Siena on Sept. 12.
Syracuse's 57 kills against Iowa State were the most for a team in a match this season. The Orange followed that up with a 53-kill effort against Cornell, marking the first time this season "Cuse has had 50 or more kills in consecutive matches.
Coming Up Aces
No team in the ACC has hit more aces in 2024 than the Orange. Syracuse's 96 aces this season are 20 more than the second-place team in the ACC. 'Cuse's 2.29 aces per set also lead the conference.
Syracuse totaled 27 aces at last weekend's Syracuse Invitational, which included 10 in a straight-set win over Le Moyne.
Ava Palm has a team-high 18 aces on the season after racking up 10 at the Syracuse Invitational. Fellow outside hitter Skylar George trails her by just one. Anastasiia Nikolnikova and Sara Wasiakowska are tied for the third most aces on the team with 13 a piece.
The Orange have hit double-digit aces four times this season and have hit at least five aces in every match but two.
Sweet Annie
In her nine appearances this season, Anastasiia Nikolnikova has made an impact both offensively and defensively for the Orange.
Nikolnikova is currently ranked No. 2 in the ACC in hitting percentage (.482) and has 63 kills (2.10/set). At the Syracuse Invitational, Nikolnikova had the most productive matches of her 'Cuse career thus far, tallying double-digit kills in all three contests. She hit at least .400 in all three contests and finished the event with 33 kills on her way to earning All-Tournament recognition.
The junior is also leading the Orange in blocks per set (1.57) and blocks (47). Nikolnikova had a season-high eight blocks against Cornell a day after putting up a season-best 13 kills against Iowa State.
Nikolnikova has at least one ace in eight of her nine appearances this season.
Oh Captains, My Captains
'Cuse has 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. She has 56 kills so far this season and has reached double-digits in each of 'Cuse's last two contests.
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 North Carolina and Duke
North Carolina enters ACC play with an 8-1 record on the season and is coming wins over Michigan and Michigan State at last weekend's ACC-Big Ten Challenge. Carolina's lone defeat this season came at the hands of South Carolina on Sept. 8.
Mabrey Shaffmaster leads the Tar Heels in kills this season with 126, and her 3.94 kills per set rank No. 6 in the ACC. The senior tallied a season-best 21 kills in the team's five-set win against Michigan last weekend. Safi Hampton ranks No. 2 on the Heels with 86 kills, and Emani' Foster is No. 3 with 79. Hampton racked up a career-high 22 kills against Michigan, while Foster had 15 kills in the team's most recent victory against Michigan State. North Carolina has split up its setting duties this season. Zoe Behrendt leads the team with 213 assists (6.66/set) and Taylor Eisert ranks No. 2 on the team (4.69/set).
Maddy May sits No. 5 in the ACC in digs per set (4.19) and leads the Tar Heels with 134 digs. The junior has double-digit digs in four straight contests. Two Tar Heels have at least 30 blocks this season - Alexis Engelbrecht (38) and Jackie Taylor (34). Engelbrecht is No. 7 in the ACC in blocks per set (1.27). North Carolina ranks No. 2 in the ACC as a team in both kills per set (14.22) and assists per set (13.41).
Syracuse vs. North Carolina | UNC leads, 12-3 | Last meeting: L 0-3, Oct. 13, 2023
Duke enters conference play with a 4-7 record on the season. The Blue Devils are currently on a four-match losing streak after going 0-2 against Michigan State and Michigan at the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.
Kerry Keefe leads the Blue Devils with 139 kills this season. The junior set a new career high with 27 kills against Michigan State. Grace Penn leads Duke with 268 assists this season (7.05/set) and Nikki Quinn is second on the team with 168 (5.60). Freshman Mailinh Godschall leads the Blue Devils and ranks No. 5 in the ACC with 165 digs (4.13/set) this season. Rylie Kadel tops Duke in blocks so far this season with 45. The senior tied her career high with 10 rejections against St. John's on Sept. 14. Duke has played three five-set matches this season and has won two of them.
Syracuse vs. Duke | Duke leads, 8-7 | Last meeting: L 0-3, Oct. 15, 2023
Syracuse vs. North Carolina Briefing
Match Details: Sept. 27, 2024 | Chapel Hill, N.C. | Carmichael Arena | 7 p.m.
Live Video: ACCNX
Live Coverage: Stats
Twitter: @CuseVB
Instagram: @cusevb
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
North Carolina Links: Roster | Schedule
Syracuse vs. Duke Briefing
Match Details: Sept. 29, 2024 | Durham, N.C. | Cameron Indoor Stadium | 1 p.m.
Live Video: ACCNX
Live Coverage: Stats
Twitter: @CuseVB
Instagram: @cusevb
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
Duke Links: Roster | Schedule
Up Next:
After a weekend on the road, Syracuse returns home for its first two ACC home matches at the Women's Building against No. 23 SMU on Oct. 4 and No. 1 Pittsburgh on Oct. 6.
For the latest news on the Syracuse volleyball program, follow /CuseVB on Facebook, @CuseVB on Instagram, and @CuseVB on X/Twitter.
The Orange first go to Chapel Hill to play North Carolina on Friday at 7 p.m. 'Cuse will then travel north to compete against Duke in Durham on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both matches will be streamed live on ACCNX.
Unbeaten Orange
At 12-0, Syracuse is off to its best start as a program since 2010 (17-0). The Orange finished non-conference play undefeated for the first time since that 2010 campaign. Syracuse is one of seven remaining unbeaten teams in the country and one of two undefeated ACC teams left, along with No. 1 ranked Pittsburgh.
The Orange went 3-0 at last weekend's Syracuse Invitational with wins over Le Moyne, Iowa State and Cornell. Syracuse's five-set victory over Iowa State was the team's first five-setter since Oct. 16, 2022, against North Carolina.
'Cuse also went 3-0 at the Salt City Classic, Big Apple Tournament and Siena Saints Invitational earlier this season.
MVP! MVP! MVP!
Graduate transfer Ava Palm was selected as the MVP of last weekend's Syracuse Invitational, her second tournament MVP honor of the season, with the other coming at the Salt City Classic.
Palm delivered the first double-double of her Syracuse career against Iowa State with 16 kills and 10 digs. She added 16 more kills and nine more digs against Cornell. She also hit 10 aces during the event, five of which came against Le Moyne.
Palm's 155 kills are the third most in the ACC this season. Palm has led the Orange in kills in all but three matches this season and has tallied double-digit kills in all but two contests.
In addition to her dynamic hitting, Palm has also stuffed the stat sheet defensively, as her 86 digs trail only Emma Ortiz for the team lead.
Block Party
The Syracuse front line has been a force throughout the opening three tournaments of the season, as the Orange currently rank No. 4 in the ACC in blocks per set (2.68).
Syracuse has at least nine blocks in seven matches this season and has notched double-digit rejections on five occasions, including in two of the last three contests.
Anastasiia Nikolnikova is pacing the Orange with 47 blocks on the season, with Sydney Moore close behind at 42. Nikolnikova's 1.57 blocks per set are the second most in the ACC.
Spreading the Wealth
Mira Ledermueller and Veronica Sierzant have been a steady tandem at setter this season for the Orange.
Ledermueller has made a team-high eight starts this season. The sophomore has tallied 25+ assists seven times and has three double-doubles, with the most recent coming against Iowa State (38 assists, 10 digs). She currently leads the team with 9.00 assists per set.
At the Syracuse Invitational, Ledermueller racked up 30+ assists in each of the team's wins against Le Moyne and Iowa State. Ledermueller currently leads the Orange with 261 assists and sits No. 7 in the ACC in assists per set with 9.00.
Sierzant took over the setting duties in both of Syracuse's wins against Iowa State and Cornell. She tallied 27 assists against the Big Red.
Sky Money
Skylar George has created a dynamic duo with fellow outside Ava Palm so far this season. The redshirt freshman registered the third double-double of her career against Iowa State, as she racked up 10 kills and 10 digs in the victory.
George has reached double-digit digs four times this season, and her 79 digs are the third most on the team. George has also posted double-digit kills in five of Syracuse's last nine matches. Her 10 kills against Iowa State snapped a three-match streak without reaching double-digits.
The outside hitter is currently second on the team in kills (107) and her 2.61 kills per set trail only Palm for the most on the Orange. George's serve has also been a weapon this season, as her 17 aces also trail only Palm for the most on the team.
We Want Moore
For the third time this season, Sydney Moore earned All-Tournament billing last weekend, as she received the honor at the Syracuse Invitational to go along with receiving it at both the Salt City Classic and Siena Saints Invitational.
Moore's 42 blocks are the second most on the Orange this season. Moore is one of just two 'Cuse players averaging over a block per set, along with Anastasiia Nikolnikova.
In addition to her defensive presence in 'Cuse's front row, Moore has also been a steady contributor to the Orange offense this season and is one of the most efficient hitters in the ACC. Through the opening month of the season, Moore is No. 6 in the ACC in hitting percentage (.405). Her 75 kills are the third most on the team. Moore has hit .500 in three matches this season and has hit at least .700 on two occasions.
Through Syracuse's first four tournaments this season, Moore is one of just four Orange players to start every match, along with Ava Palm, Greta Schlichter and Emma Ortiz.
Efficient Offense
Syracuse's offense was efficient throughout non-conference play. The Orange currently rank No. 7 in the ACC in hitting percentage (.263) while averaging 13.00 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. The Orange have hit over .300 five times this season, most recently against Siena on Sept. 12.
Syracuse's 57 kills against Iowa State were the most for a team in a match this season. The Orange followed that up with a 53-kill effort against Cornell, marking the first time this season "Cuse has had 50 or more kills in consecutive matches.
Coming Up Aces
No team in the ACC has hit more aces in 2024 than the Orange. Syracuse's 96 aces this season are 20 more than the second-place team in the ACC. 'Cuse's 2.29 aces per set also lead the conference.
Syracuse totaled 27 aces at last weekend's Syracuse Invitational, which included 10 in a straight-set win over Le Moyne.
Ava Palm has a team-high 18 aces on the season after racking up 10 at the Syracuse Invitational. Fellow outside hitter Skylar George trails her by just one. Anastasiia Nikolnikova and Sara Wasiakowska are tied for the third most aces on the team with 13 a piece.
The Orange have hit double-digit aces four times this season and have hit at least five aces in every match but two.
Sweet Annie
In her nine appearances this season, Anastasiia Nikolnikova has made an impact both offensively and defensively for the Orange.
Nikolnikova is currently ranked No. 2 in the ACC in hitting percentage (.482) and has 63 kills (2.10/set). At the Syracuse Invitational, Nikolnikova had the most productive matches of her 'Cuse career thus far, tallying double-digit kills in all three contests. She hit at least .400 in all three contests and finished the event with 33 kills on her way to earning All-Tournament recognition.
The junior is also leading the Orange in blocks per set (1.57) and blocks (47). Nikolnikova had a season-high eight blocks against Cornell a day after putting up a season-best 13 kills against Iowa State.
Nikolnikova has at least one ace in eight of her nine appearances this season.
Oh Captains, My Captains
'Cuse has 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. She has 56 kills so far this season and has reached double-digits in each of 'Cuse's last two contests.
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 North Carolina and Duke
North Carolina enters ACC play with an 8-1 record on the season and is coming wins over Michigan and Michigan State at last weekend's ACC-Big Ten Challenge. Carolina's lone defeat this season came at the hands of South Carolina on Sept. 8.
Mabrey Shaffmaster leads the Tar Heels in kills this season with 126, and her 3.94 kills per set rank No. 6 in the ACC. The senior tallied a season-best 21 kills in the team's five-set win against Michigan last weekend. Safi Hampton ranks No. 2 on the Heels with 86 kills, and Emani' Foster is No. 3 with 79. Hampton racked up a career-high 22 kills against Michigan, while Foster had 15 kills in the team's most recent victory against Michigan State. North Carolina has split up its setting duties this season. Zoe Behrendt leads the team with 213 assists (6.66/set) and Taylor Eisert ranks No. 2 on the team (4.69/set).
Maddy May sits No. 5 in the ACC in digs per set (4.19) and leads the Tar Heels with 134 digs. The junior has double-digit digs in four straight contests. Two Tar Heels have at least 30 blocks this season - Alexis Engelbrecht (38) and Jackie Taylor (34). Engelbrecht is No. 7 in the ACC in blocks per set (1.27). North Carolina ranks No. 2 in the ACC as a team in both kills per set (14.22) and assists per set (13.41).
Syracuse vs. North Carolina | UNC leads, 12-3 | Last meeting: L 0-3, Oct. 13, 2023
Duke enters conference play with a 4-7 record on the season. The Blue Devils are currently on a four-match losing streak after going 0-2 against Michigan State and Michigan at the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.
Kerry Keefe leads the Blue Devils with 139 kills this season. The junior set a new career high with 27 kills against Michigan State. Grace Penn leads Duke with 268 assists this season (7.05/set) and Nikki Quinn is second on the team with 168 (5.60). Freshman Mailinh Godschall leads the Blue Devils and ranks No. 5 in the ACC with 165 digs (4.13/set) this season. Rylie Kadel tops Duke in blocks so far this season with 45. The senior tied her career high with 10 rejections against St. John's on Sept. 14. Duke has played three five-set matches this season and has won two of them.
Syracuse vs. Duke | Duke leads, 8-7 | Last meeting: L 0-3, Oct. 15, 2023
Syracuse vs. North Carolina Briefing
Match Details: Sept. 27, 2024 | Chapel Hill, N.C. | Carmichael Arena | 7 p.m.
Live Video: ACCNX
Live Coverage: Stats
Twitter: @CuseVB
Instagram: @cusevb
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
North Carolina Links: Roster | Schedule
Syracuse vs. Duke Briefing
Match Details: Sept. 29, 2024 | Durham, N.C. | Cameron Indoor Stadium | 1 p.m.
Live Video: ACCNX
Live Coverage: Stats
Twitter: @CuseVB
Instagram: @cusevb
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
Duke Links: Roster | Schedule
Up Next:
After a weekend on the road, Syracuse returns home for its first two ACC home matches at the Women's Building against No. 23 SMU on Oct. 4 and No. 1 Pittsburgh on Oct. 6.
For the latest news on the Syracuse volleyball program, follow /CuseVB on Facebook, @CuseVB on Instagram, and @CuseVB on X/Twitter.
Players Mentioned
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