Orange Sweep Howard in Cornell Invite Opener

Thursday, September 3

Ithaca, NY

6 PM

Syracuse University

1-2,0-0ACC

Howard

0-3,0-0MEAC

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Syracuse	25	25	25	3
Howard	13	18	22	0

9/3/2026 8:33:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Highlights

The Syracuse volleyball team opened a three-day, three-match stretch in Ithaca on Thursday with a 3-0 sweep of Howard at Newman Arena, taking the first-ever meeting between the two programs by set scores of 25-13, 25-18, 25-22.

Kiernan Stamey paced the Orange offense with 10 kills on .296 hitting to go with eight digs, while Bo Nijenhuis provided efficient scoring. Charis Burge orchestrated the attack with 22 assists and added nine digs for a double-double. Abby Nicholson chipped in five kills and a team-high three block assists.

As a team, Syracuse hit .253 to Howard's .126 and the Orange did the damage from the service line and at the net through the middle of the match to never trail in either of the first two sets.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Syracuse and Howard traded the first few points of set one before the Orange took control. Tied at 3-3, Syracuse rallied off points behind kills from Emma Williams and Nijenhuis to open a 12-6 cushion, then got back-to-back service aces from Sophie Vienna to help push the lead to 22-9. The Orange closed out the opening frame comfortably, 25-13.

Howard tied set two at 10-10. From there, Syracuse answered behind Stamey, who scored on kills on three straight Orange turns, and the Orange never let the Bison closer than two the rest of the way, taking the frame 25-18 on a Nicholson ace.

Howard built leads of 4-1 and 8-5 early in the third set. Kills from Keila Gabriel and Nijenhuis, pulled Syracuse level at 9-9 and then 11-11 before the Orange ripped off a 3-0 run to grab a 14-11 lead they wouldn't relinquish. Howard made one last push, pulling within a point three separate times down the stretch, 20-19, 21-20 and 24-22, but Syracuse took control to take the set and the sweep.

NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS

Charis Burge recorded 22 assists.
Kiernan Stamey led all players with 10 kills, hitting .296, and added eight digs.
Bo Nijenhuis chipped in 5 kills in the win.
Abby Nicholson led the Orange in blocking with three assisted blocks to go with five kills.
Sophie Vienna served up two of Syracuse's seven team aces.
The Orange held Howard to a .126 hitting percentage as a team.