For the first time in Atlantic Coast Conference play this season, Syracuse won the first set of the match. The Orange players clapped, yelled and warmed up on the sidelines while some Miami players folded their arms. Some put their hands in their pockets, but nearly all of them buried themselves in their zip-ups.

But the energy wasn’t enough SU.

Miami (10-6, 3-2 ACC) clawed out a victory in four sets over Syracuse (7-10, 0-5). After taking the first set 25-22, the Orange was beaten 26-24, 25-16 and 25-21 in the following three. Syracuse could only stave off the Hurricanes in the first set before it broke down.

“I felt like (the energy) was pretty good, especially in the first set. I think in the third set, we fell a little flat and that definitely contributed to how we were playing,” said Lindsay McCabe, a senior blocker.

In the first and second sets, the Orange was competitive. Syracuse built two runs of five points and held off an answer from Miami. Silvi Uatarra, an outside hitter, ended the first set with a kill, one of her 21 on the night.

Syracuse and Miami traded points in the second set. Gosia Wlaszczuk and Monika Salkute went for the same ball, only for it to drop, giving the Hurricanes an 18-16 lead. After the Orange came back to tie the set at 24, Miami picked up two straight points to close out the set.

As the second set closed out, Miami players looked comfortable for the first time, raising their hands to form a “U,” signaling the set point. The Hurricanes’ confidence translated in the third set, gaining a lead that grew to nine at one point. Miami’s Kelsie Groot blasted a spike to punctuate the set and push the Hurricanes past the Orange for good.

Head coach Leonid Yelin thought the team fought well in the first and second sets, but not winning the second set took its toll.

“In the third (set) it was just a mental break after we didn’t pull out (the) second (set),” Yelin said.

Despite a renewed effort, SU started slowly in the fourth and final set. Miami jumped out to a lead and never looked back. Miami’s Sakile Simmons closed out the game on a block— one area the Orange has excelled in this season.

The block broke the Orange’s streak of either tying or out-blocking its opponent.

Syracuse’s loss extended a five-game losing streak against ACC opponents, the worst start in conference play in the last decade for the Orange.

Said Yelin, “We’re trying so hard, but winning is a very important part to build confidence, especially in a tight game when you’re playing with confidence, everything works better.”

Published on October 11, 2014 at 1:04 am

Contact Chris: cjlibona@syr.edu | @ChrisLibonati