Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our sports newsletter here.

Following the 2023 season, Syracuse volleyball was at a crossroads. The team had its worst season in program history, winning just two nonconference games and finishing 0-18 in Atlantic Coast Conference matches.

Despite the lack of success, head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam’s belief in the potential and resilience of the program never wavered. In 2023, he asked for patience; in 2024, his approach paid off initially.

Last season, Syracuse cruised through the conference slate, sweeping opponents in seven of 12 games. Its 12-0 start was the program’s best since 2010. SU’s momentum didn’t carry into ACC play, however, losing its first nine conference games. A once-promising season ended in disappointment for the Orange, as they finished 15-17, their third straight season with a losing record.

“I’m not sure something particularly went wrong,” Ganesharatnam said. “With the experience we got last year and with the addition of the new players, I think we’re going to perform possibly better when we get ourselves in those situations again.”

The third-year head coach has won just 10 conference games at Syracuse, but he’s optimistic SU can compete at the ACC level in 2025.

Here’s everything you need to know about SU’s 2025 season ahead of its season opener against Niagara on Friday:

Roster turnover

With the rise of name, image and likeness along with the transfer portal, athletic programs around the country are seeing increased roster turnover. Ganesharatnam experienced it firsthand in 2025, as five players transferred out. In replacing them, SU’s coaching staff prioritized fit throughout recruitment.

“I think as a whole, we put a lot of thought and time into researching, making sure we don’t just recruit very good volleyball players, but also the right characters that fit all the culture that we want to build here at Syracuse,” Ganesharatnam said.

Only seven players are returning from last year’s team, meaning the Orange will heavily rely on their incoming 10-person class this season. The nonconference schedule will be pivotal in helping it develop chemistry and adjust to SU’s play style.

Nevada transfers Gabriella McLaughlin and Tehya Maeva, who were both selected as captains for SU’s 2025 campaign, headline the transfer class. McLaughlin earned a spot on the All-Mountain West team in 2024 as an outside hitter, while Maeva is the lone setter of the transfer class.

Syracuse’s offensive struggles have been well-documented, but Ganesharatnam is establishing the team’s identity defensively. In 2023, SU ranked last in the ACC in blocks (122), but that number climbed to 293 last season, ranking fifth-best in the conference.

With two of SU’s top-three blockers from 2024 moving on, Ganeshartnam expects junior Zharia Harris-Waddy to progress as a middle blocker. Harris-Waddy showed glimpses of stardom with a 17-kill, 11-block game against Notre Dame last season. Alongside Harris-Waddy and Sydney Moore, the Orange added five freshmen middle blockers to bolster the defensive front.

“I’m really excited about our freshman class,” Ganesharatnam said. “They fit the style we want to play really well, and I foresee them definitely having an impact on our program, not just for this season but for multiple seasons to come.”

Syracuse notched 293 blocks in 2024, a mark that ranked fifth-best in the ACC. Angelina Grevi | Staff Photographer

Dynamic offense

Syracuse’s defensive efforts have been hampered by inefficient offensive play in recent years. In 2024, SU ranked 17th in both kills (1,302) and kills per set (11.22) in the ACC.

Ganesharatnam aims to run a more diverse offense in 2025 by having “multiple options from the front row and back row.” He is confident the team’s high volleyball IQ, combined with adept technical skill, will increase offensive percentages across the board.

Sophomore Skylar George thrived in her first season with the Orange, ranking second on the team in kills (258) and recording double-digit kills in three of SU’s last four games. Ganesharatnam believes consistency is the key to George increasing her production as a sophomore.

McLaughlin and Maeva will complement George offensively. Maeva, a former beach volleyball standout, recorded 895 assists with the Wolfpack in 2024, 200 more than the closest Syracuse player. Her natural playmaking ability will help the Orange become more creative offensively. McLaughlin’s 443 kills and 3.82 kills per set also would’ve been team highs for SU in 2024.

Schedule breakdown

Like last season’s hot start, the Orange can build confidence early in the season, competing in three nonconference tournaments before ACC play. On Sept. 12 and 13, SU will play Colgate in a home and away series.

Still, Ganesharatnam wanted to challenge Syracuse in its nonconference slate by playing a higher RPI than last season. Its battle with Cornell (Sept. 6) and the Colgate series will be major tests early in the season.

In ACC play, Syracuse opens with four straight road games before taking on California and No. 6 Stanford. The Orange will later face North Carolina on Oct. 19 and Boston College on Oct. 22.

In the ACC Preseason Coaches Poll, Syracuse ranked 17th, only ahead of Virginia Tech. SU ends the regular season against the Hokies at home on Nov. 28.

Published on August 25, 2025 at 9:16 pm