Syracuse volleyball swept by No. 4 Pitt, extends losing streak to 8
Syracuse volleyball registered its first negative hitting percentage of the season in Friday’s loss to No. 4 Pitt, its eighth in a row. Tara Deluca | Staff Photographer
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Although Syracuse lost seven in a row entering Friday’s match against Pittsburgh, the Orange had opportunities late in sets to grab momentum and change the complexion of the match.
Most recently, the Orange had opportunities to steal the third set against NC State and Wake Forest, but they lost each set 26-24. SU has simply been unable to convert in those situations — head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam has acknowledged the team must improve at the end of sets.
Against a team the caliber of No. 4 Pittsburgh, though, the Orange never got such a chance. The closest Syracuse (13-14, 5-12 Atlantic Coast) finished a set was within six points in a straight sets loss to the Panthers (23-4, 15-2 ACC). Syracuse registered its first negative hitting percentage (-2.2%) of the season.
“We’re excited about the next matches that are coming up,” Ganesharatnam said earlier this week. “Some unbelievable teams we’re going to play this weekend. However, we’re going to go out and compete.”
Ganesharatnam’s assessment of Pittsburgh being “unbelievable” is correct — the Panthers have rolled through the ACC, boasting one of the most well-rounded offenses and defenses in the nation. In conference play, the Panthers rank top three in both hitting percentage (31.3%) and opponent hitting percentage allowed (17.1%)
Usually, it’s 2024 ACC Player of the Year Olivia Babcock who spearheads the attack, but from the first serve, it was an all-around effort from the Panthers.
Blaire Bayless, who ranks second on the team in kills (251), pinpointed two cross-court shots to open the scoring for Pittsburgh. A pair of sloppy service errors from the Panthers, however, kept SU in the set initially.
A Gabriella McLaughlin kill gave the Orange a 7-5 lead, but that was the only Syracuse highlight for the next 24 points, with Pittsburgh showcasing its high-octane offense for a 6-0 run to break the set open and grab a 15-9 lead.
It wasn’t the only Panther run of the evening — after a Skylar George finesse shot cut the deficit to 17-11, Pittsburgh rattled off the final eight points to take the first set. While George notched five first-set kills, SU was overmatched in all facets.
That run carried into the second set, as the Panthers scored the first four points – extending their run to 12. Sydnie Waller, who broke out with a 15-kill performance against NC State, got SU on the board with a big swing.
Babcock, who recorded just 10 kills on the night, then fired long, marking a 3-0 Syracuse run to cut the lead to 4-3.
But like the first set, Syracuse could not hold Pittsburgh’s offense quiet for the entirety of a frame – the Panthers’ firepower and talent won out all night. Leading 10-6, the Panthers scored six straight points.
In the midst of that run, Ganesharatnam was surely displeased with how George failed to handle a seemingly simple Marina Pezelj serve. In recent weeks, he’s mentioned how SU’s serve and serve receive must improve for the team to be competitive. Ashlee Gnau acknowledged how important that is against teams as elite as Pittsburgh.
“We need to stay aggressive with our serves and get these good teams out of system,” Gnau said earlier this week.
Later in the set, a Tehya Maeva and George miscommunication – on what should have been a routine connection – extended the Panthers’ lead to 21-8. From there, Bayless fired it cross-court for a point. Mallorie Meyer then dove for a highlight-reel dig, with the ball rotating over to Pezelj, who finished the Orange off with a kill.
Unfortunately for Syracuse, its serve showed up two sets too late. It had zero aces going into the third set, but Gnau, Maeva and Piper Willinger each recorded one in the frame. Gnau’s opened the scoring, with her attempt hitting the net and rolling onto Pittsburgh’s side.
The third set continued the match’s trend. Yet again, the Orange could not escape a Panther run. This time, Babcock notched three kills as part of a 7-0 Panther burst.
Trailing 10-4, Ganesharatnam opted to substitute in Marisse Turner, who had not logged a kill all season. That changed when the Long Beach, California, native used one hand to drive the ball from the middle to the left sideline for a kill.
The substitution resulted in SU’s best string of play all night. After trailing 20-12, the Orange outscored Pitt 7-4 over the next 11 points.
At match point, however, Sophia Gregoire hammered it off McLaughlin and out of play to clinch the victory for Pittsburgh.
“It’s been a rough losing streak, but I think we’re just all trying to stay together and mentally stay strong,” Gnau said earlier prior to the match.
