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Syracuse ended its 2024 season on a high note. The Orange won their third conference game this season, notched their first win outside of New York State in over two years and three players registered season-highs.

In four sets, Syracuse (15-17, 3-17 ACC) defeated Virginia Tech (7-22, 1-18 ACC). This is SU’s first ACC win outside of the Women’s Building since Oct. 21, 2022, against Clemson. The Orange started the season 12-0 but only won two of their final 20 matches. Ava Palm (21 kills and 13 digs), Skylar George (13 kills and 10 digs) and Veronica Sierzant (30 assists and 11 digs) all notched double-doubles.

At the top of the first set, Syracuse and VT exchanged the lead several times. The Hokies took a 6-5 lead before SU head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam challenged the call. After a long deliberation by the referees, the call was overturned and SU was awarded the point, putting it ahead of VT.

From there, the Orange went on a 4-0 run. VT then answered with three unanswered points.

Ultimately, outside hitter Skylar George and right-side hitter Sara Wasiakowska decided the final score. George hit a ball out, resulting in an attack error for the Orange, which bumped SU’s lead to 23-20. Right after, George recorded a kill, moving SU to 24-20. Though SU dropped the next point, a strong kill by Wasiakowska secured the Orange’s first-set victory.

The second set was SU’s strongest of the match. Syracuse started with an early scoring run and maintained it for the set’s entirety. The Hokies called a timeout while trailing 12-8.

From there, SU began to pull away, going on a 12-7 run. Soon after, outside hitter Ava Palm ended the set with a powerful kill, beating VT 25-16.

Despite their encouraging start, the Orange hit a roadblock in the third set.

The set started with a challenge from VT. Syracuse earned the first point of the set following a VT touch out of bounds. However the call was overturned, giving Virginia Tech the set’s first point. This set the tone for a close set.

With the score knotted 21-21, VT notched a kill which Ganesharatnam quickly challenged. Yet he lost the challenge, as the Hokies took a one-point lead. After a brief back and forth and another SU timeout, VT won the third set 25-23 on a kill by Belle Patrick.

The fourth set followed a similar pattern as the third. Syracuse earned an early lead, VT caught up and the lead continuously changed.

Ganesharatnam called a timeout as Virginia Tech commanded a 20-19 lead. Following the break, Palm corraled her 20th kill of the match, tying the score. She then notched her season-high 21st kill on the ensuing possession to give the Orange a one-point lead.

In addition to Palm notching a season-high in kills, George’s two assists and Anastasiia Nikolnikova made four digs were also season-highs.

After one last timeout called by VT, a kill by Wasiakowska launched a long rally which ended in a VT attack error, ending the set and match for the Orange 25-22 — ending the season with a win.

Published on November 29, 2024 at 6:22 pm

Contact Vivian: vpcollins06@gmail.com