In its Atlantic Coast Conference opener, Syracuse (3-5, 0-1 ACC) lost to Georgia Tech (8-4, 1-0) in four sets. Freshman libero Berkley Hayes continued to start in place of senior Aliah Bowllan, who was out with a foot injury.

Before the match, Syracuse assistant coach Derryk Williams noted the challenge Georgia Tech represented, even off the back of three-straight victories for the Orange. 

“Georgia Tech I think is one of the hardest gyms to play in because it’s old, it’s metal ceilings and the band rocks,” Williams said. “So it is so loud to play in.”

The atmosphere rattled SU in the first set, as Georgia Tech quickly fired off a pair of service aces to help open up a 4-1 lead. SU head coach Leonid Yelin used both his timeouts in the set to try and settle his team down, as it committed three service errors. Despite some strong play from freshman Marina Marokova, whose four kills were the most of any player in the set, Georgia Tech’s dominance at the net saw them take the set, 25-17.

The Orange started the second set better than the first, following the introduction of freshman setter Lauren Woodford in place of sophomore Elena Karakasi. Woodford, who finished with six assists, combined well with Polina Shemanova to push SU into an 8-5 lead. Georgia Tech responded by taking seven of the next eight points, forcing Yelin to call a timeout with the Yellow Jackets ahead 12-9. Just as they had in the first set, Georgia Tech continued to assert its dominance up front, including an 11-0 run, to win the set 25-10.

Syracuse came out reenergized in third set, with Shemanova recording a pair of kills as SU jumped out to a 7-2 lead. Junior Ella Saada, Markova and Shemanova’s improvement at the net allowed the Orange to expand their lead, with Syracuse in front 16-9 midway through the set. Several attacking and service errors allowed Georgia Tech to hang around in the set, but a challenge by Yelin overturned an incorrect call on a Shemanova kill that won SU the set, 25-17.

The Yellow Jackets picked up from where they left off in the first two sets, with their outside hitters continuing to cause SU problems, as Georgia Tech leapt in front, 7-2, before a timeout from Yelin. Shortly after the timeout, the Orange scored four unanswered points, but were unable to maintain their momentum, as Georgia Tech cemented a 17-10 advantage. Attacking and service errors continued to plague the Orange, and they eventually lost the set 25-12.

ACC play continues for SU this weekend when the Orange face Clemson on Sunday at 1 p.m. 

Published on September 27, 2019 at 10:30 pm

Contact Alex: athamer@syr.edu