Unforced errors, offensive inconsistencies hamper SU in loss to Arkansas
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Every team has its Achilles’ heel, an unavoidable weakness at every turn of a season.
Some weaknesses are subtle, almost indistinguishable from the rest of its game. Then there are flaws that are hard to miss.
Syracuse’s main issue all season has been its offensive inconsistencies. The Orange committed 10-plus attack errors per match entering their home opener Wednesday. Arkansas knew SU’s Achilles heel, and it planned to attack it with all it had.
The Razorbacks’ plan worked. Syracuse (3-3, 0-0 Atlantic Coast) faltered under Arkansas’ (4-2, 0-0 Southeastern) pressure, falling 3-1 behind 39 unforced errors. Despite hanging on early in the match, SU’s sloppy play allowed Arkansas to pull away. The Orange recalibrated in the third set, but they didn’t stick in the fourth, handing SU its third Power Four loss this season.
Both teams appeared evenly matched in the first set. Tied 19-19, the set could swing either direction. With Arkansas serving, Syracuse had a chance to gain a crucial point.
Abby Nicholson, one of many standouts for SU thus far, shanked the serve, giving Arkansas the edge. Then two Razorback blocks caused SU to unravel. The Orange called two timeouts in as many points but couldn’t regroup, allowing two service aces and misplacing another attack to give Arkansas a 1-0 lead.
Like the first set, the second went back-and-forth. However, Syracuse pulled ahead late. Up 22-19 after a 5-0 run, the Orange looked poised to tie the match.
However, the same thorn pricked SU again. Back-to-back unforced errors put the Razorbacks on the doorstep of a 2-0 lead. Syracuse’s Keila Gabriel rocketed a late kill to bring the set within one, but Marie Laurio’s ensuing serve hit the net, handing Arkansas the 2-0 advantage.
“There were just moments where our game broke down,” SU head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam said postgame.
Following two close set losses, the Orange chose to change their attack. The decision bamboozled Arkansas, and the script flipped in the third set.
Syracuse had a near-perfect set, hitting 48.1% and only committing three errors. Arkansas, on the other hand, couldn’t solve SU’s offense, pressuring the Razorback offense into eight attacking errors.
“In between sets, I talked to a lot of my hitters, and one goal we had was we were going to mix up the offense,” SU setter Charis Burge said. “We were going to run different things than we normally do and just try to find different ways to score.”
Thanks to the change-up, Syracuse won the set convincingly. The Orange just needed to stay consistent to stay alive. But they couldn’t.
Repeating the first two sets, SU remained even with Arkansas midway through the fourth set. The unforced errors returned to Syracuse’s game. The Orange committed eight errors and trailed 15-13 before a timeout.
Arkansas dominated from there. The Razorback offense shifted the pressure back onto SU, and it couldn’t respond. During Arkansas’ 11-1 run to win the match, the Orange committed six more attacking errors, bringing their match total to 29.
“We allowed them to distance themselves by making some unforced errors,” Ganesharatnam said. “I think that’s an area we need to work on and be a little smarter in our execution.”
