The Syracuse volleyball team had no shortage of momentum going into this weekend. It had won its last four matches, all of those keyed by first set victories. It was the perfect time for SU to play a pair of games against talented Big East foes.

The Orange was able to stretch that momentum for one more game before it ran out. Syracuse controlled the tempo Friday against Connecticut in a 3-1 win, before falling to St. John’s, 3-1, on Sunday.

In both those games, the first set established the tone for the rest of the match. The Orange squeezed out victories in the first two sets against the Huskies, but fell in the first frame against the Red Storm, 26-24. The first set has been a key factor in Syracuse’s success all year. Only twice all year has the Orange (9-9, 2-1) lost the first set and come back to win the match.

Syracuse played from behind during the first set Friday before freshman Erin Little hammered one of her five kills in the match to put SU back on top 24-23. The Orange then closed out the Huskies to take game one.

SU’s blocking ability played a large roll in its win. The Orange out blocked UConn (12-6, 2-2) 15-4.

‘Our blocking really helped us,’ said junior Kacie MacTavish. ‘Erin really had a few big blocks, and I think we just never let down; we could never really get in a run of points, but we stayed strong the whole game, and I think we just fought a little harder.’

Syracuse racked up a total of 55 kills against the Huskies – 16 more than it was able to manage against St. John’s (12-7, 3-1). The Orange was paced by freshman Noemie Lefebvre, who had 15 kills.

But the Orange’s offensive prowess dropped off Sunday. SU had an attacking percentage of .336 against UConn, but finished with a .099 mark against St. John’s. SU was knocked off its game by Lena Yee, the Red Storm’s libero (a player who rotates in the back row primarily to serve).

‘They came up with a lot of different shots that we are not used to,’ MacTavish said. ‘There were opportunities for us to put the ball away that we just did not take advantage of. I think that is a big reason why we couldn’t win.’

The Red Storm’s setter, Wioleta Leszczynska, gave the Orange problems as well. Her 52 assists set the pace for the St. John’s offense, which rose above the SU defense.

‘We made a couple small errors, but we just could not really keep up with their setter,’ said senior April Quigley. ‘She distributed the ball really fast, changed sides she was setting to, and made it really hard on us.’

The tone for Sunday’s loss was once against set in the first frame. Syracuse battled from behind most of the set before tying the game at 24. But a pair of St. John’s kills on the next two plays put the set away.

The Orange made 12 attack errors Friday, but was forced into 25 in the losing effort to the Red Storm. Morton, who led the Orange with five solo blocks against UConn, was held to just one by the Red Storm.

Despite the difference in result, the Orange was able to compete with and hang around with two teams that entered the weekend high in the Big East standings. After Sunday’s defeat, Todd and the rest of the Orange seemed to maintain the confidence it had gathered during its previous five games.

‘I think we know, now, that can compete with the tougher teams in the conference, and we know that we will definitely be up there as the season goes on,’ Todd said. ‘We are just looking forward to playing the next few weekends, and playing more big games.’

dfbaer@syr.edu

Published on October 5, 2008 at 12:00 pm