Virginia Falls Short At Syracuse, 3-2
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Box Score Oct. 18, 2015
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Virginia volleyball team came back to extend the match to a tie breaking fifth set, but fell short to Syracuse, 3-2 (24-26, 25-11, 25-18, 23-25, 16-14), on Sunday afternoon in the Women’s Building.
“We were all over the place today and we could never keep our momentum going for long periods of time,” head coach Dennis Hohenshelt said. “We had chances early in game five and did not convert. There are several areas we need to get better at and we will work hard to improve those before next weekend.”
It was a close match that saw three sets decided by two points, with two requiring extras. Virginia (13-6, 5-3 ACC) led the match with 65 kills as four players reached double-figures, but Syracuse (15-4, 6-2 ACC) was more efficient with a .261 hitting percentage to .192.
The Cavaliers also led in digs, 70-63, but Syracuse had the advantage in blocks (20-6) and service aces (9-1).
Freshman Anna Walsh (Grapevine, Texas) finished with a career-high 20 kills to lead all players. Senior Natalie Bausback (Carlsbad, Calif.) and junior Haley Kole (Tallahassee, Fla.) each finished with double-doubles.
Bausback had 16 kills and 12 digs, while Kole tallied 11 kills and a career-high 14 digs. Senior Kayla Sears (Moorpark, Calif.) added 10 kills and fellow senior Lauren Fuller (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) matched her career-high with 60 assists.
Virginia took a 14-8 lead over Syracuse after a 6-1 run in the first set. The Cavaliers’ lead slowly diminished, and Syracuse eventually tied the set up at 24-24. However, Kole landed a kill on the next point then Bausback and sophomore Alex Thorson (Spring, Texas) followed with a block to give UVA a 26-24 win.
The Cavaliers were unable to get anything going in the second set as Syracuse surged to a 14-7 lead and remained in control to take the set 25-11 and tie the match at 1-1. The teams were tied 7-7 in the third set before a run put Syracuse in front 13-8. UVA cut the lead to four, but could not get any closer as Syracuse held on for a 25-18 win.
After trailing early in the fourth, UVA used a 5-1 run to cut the lead to one and would then tie the set up at 13-13. Syracuse went back ahead, but five-straight points gave the Cavaliers a 17-15 advantage. The set was tied at 23-23 when, for second time in the match, UVA notched two-straight points to win 25-23.
Virginia and Syracuse fought for the lead in the fifth set with 10 ties. It was knotted up at 14-14 when Syracuse connected on two consecutive points to take the set 16-14.
The Cavaliers will be back in Memorial Gym for four-straight matches and eight of the last 12 in the regular season. UVA hosts Notre Dame on Friday (Oct. 23) before welcoming Louisville on Saturday (Oct. 24).