Syracuse University
North Carolina
Orange Fall in Four Sets Against #21 North Carolina
10/19/2025 4:57:00 PM | Volleyball
The Syracuse University volleyball team (12-6, 4-4 ACC) fell to No. 21 North Carolina (15-2, 8-0 ACC) in four sets on Sunday afternoon at the Women's Building. The Tar Heels took the match 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-14, 25-13) in front of 457 fans. Despite the loss, the Orange showed resilience in the second set, battling back to even the match before North Carolina pulled away in the final two frames.
Gabby McLaughlin led Syracuse with 14 kills while hitting .154 for the match. Skylar George added 12 kills and Soana Lea'ea contributed four kills with three solo blocks. Tehya Maeva orchestrated the offense with 34 assists, while Rana Yamada paced the defense with 12 digs and added two service aces.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The opening set was tightly contested throughout, featuring eight ties. Syracuse pulled within one in the waning moments of the set to make it 23-22, but North Carolina closed out the set to earn a 25-23 win in the frame.
The Orange bounced back emphatically in the second set. After falling behind 8-4, Syracuse rallied behind strong serving from Reese Teves, who recorded two aces during a crucial stretch. The Orange built a 24-22 lead and closed out the set 25-23 to even the match, capping a run that saw them score nine of the final 13 points.
North Carolina seized control in the third set, jumping out to an 11-7 lead behind a dominant service run from Safi Hampton. The Tar Heels continued to pull away, hitting .375 for the set while holding Syracuse to just a .028 attack percentage. The Tar Heels took the frame 25-14 to regain the lead.
The fourth set followed a similar pattern as North Carolina built an early 9-3 advantage. The Tar Heels maintained their momentum throughout, hitting .500 for the set. Syracuse couldn't mount a sustained comeback, and UNC closed out the match 25-13.
NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS
- Gabby McLaughlin led Syracuse with 14 kills on 52 attacks, adding six digs and one block assist.
- Skylar George posted 12 kills while hitting .167.
- Soana Lea'ea recorded three solo blocks, leading the Orange defensive effort at the net.
- Tehya Maeva distributed 34 assists and added five digs.
- Rana Yamada led all players with 12 digs and contributed two service aces.
- Reese Teves came off the bench to record two aces and four digs.
- North Carolina hit .363 for the match compared to Syracuse's .143.
- The match featured 22 ties and nine lead changes across all four sets.
UP NEXT
The Orange will have a quick turnaround as they get set to take on Boston College on Wednesday this week. The match will air on ACC Network at 7 p.m.
For the latest news on the Syracuse volleyball program, follow /CuseVB on Facebook, @CuseVB on Instagram, and @CuseVB on X/Twitter.
