For four Orange seniors, final regular season game night to remember
There was a different feel in the Manley Field House on Friday evening, a more electric feel. Decorations were set up throughout the arena, blue and orange balloons could be seen in every which way, and massive posters bearing the names of the women’s volleyball seniors were on display at the entrance.
For a select group of Syracuse seniors, it was the last game in Manley Field House.
Syracuse (21-10, 9-5 Big East) concluded its season on Friday night with a victory over Villanova (16-13, 5-9), 3-0, in front of 510 fans, a season-high . Though the win guarantees the Orange a favorable seed in the upcoming Big East tournament, this evening was all about the seniors.
The four seniors on the team – middle blocker Sarah Morton, outside hitter Annabelle Pellerin, defensive specialist Shanetha McLaurin, and outside hitter Kacie MacTavish – have all been dynamic players since arriving at SU four years ago, each one playing a significant role in the team’s success.
‘This game felt a lot different, especially with everything that was going on,’ Pellerin said. ‘With my brothers coming down from Canada and everything that the underclassmen did for us, it was really emotional.’
MacTavish, the co-captain, was a 2009 preseason All-Big East selection. McLaurin, known for her quickness in the back row, leads the team in digs. Morton, one of the most prolific players in Syracuse history and the other captain, is the program career leader in total blocks, block assists, solo blocks, and blocks per set. Pellerin currently ranks fourth on the squad in kills and blocks, and third in assists.
Before the game began, as the team was performing its warm-up drills, the seniors all wore t-shirts, unlike the usual uniform that the rest of the team wears. The shirt had a team picture on the front, and their name and picture on the back.
When the Syracuse lineup was announced, the seniors were greeted with flowers from their family members, and gifts from the underclassmen.
Once the game was underway, the atmosphere translated into stellar play for the Orange. Syracuse won the first two sets easily, and though it trailed 16-11 late in the third set, the Orange managed to overcome the deficit, winning 26-24 and completing a three -et sweep of the Wildcats. Fittingly, Morton ended her last regular season game with two thrashing kills that left the Villanova defenders with no chance.
‘The whole game was exciting’, Morton said. ‘We just wanted to play well because we knew it was going to be our last time playing here. But I think that right now I’m not as sad as I’m supposed to be because we’re still playing. After the Big East Tournament ends and everything begins to slow down, it will hit me.’
As the game concluded, the SU players came back out and were congratulated by large contingencies of family and friends. In an uncharacteristic display of excitement, the usually mild-mannered McLaurin dumped the water in the cooler on soft-spoken head coach Jing Pu.
Though the regular season ended on a strong note, SU knows that there is more volleyball to play, and the season is not over just yet. Syracuse will begin its run in the Big East Tournament on Nov. 20 in Louisville, Ky.
‘The seniors are going to be greatly missed, and there’s definitely going to be big shoes to fill next year,’ concluded assistant coach Carol LaMarche. ‘Hopefully we can do well at the Big East Tournament. That would be icing on the cake.’
