CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Syracuse Volleyball traveled to face the No. 22 North Carolina Tar Heels following its first ACC win in over a year.
The team wasn’t expecting a block party waiting for them in Chapel Hill. UNC outblocked the Orange 11-4 in its sweep of Syracuse, the Orange’s largest block deficit since its match against SMU.
The Tar Heels’ block was led by middle blocker Jackie Taylor. She contributed to eight of the team’s blocks on the evening, all while only playing in the first two sets. Taylor finished the match with seven kills and a .583 hitting percentage in her two sets played.
Given the blocking prowess Syracuse was up against, the Orange still found ways to produce some offense.
Middle blocker Abby Nicholson and right-side hitters Keila Gabriel and Emma Williams were involved early and often. Nicholson tallied the most kills for the Orange on the day with six, followed closely behind by Gabriel and Williams with five each.
This focus on the offense was an adjustment made mid-match, according to Syracuse head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam, and one that kept the third set more competitive. After the first two finished with scores of 25-11, the third set ended with a 25-20 North Carolina victory.
The other adjustment Syracuse made throughout the match was running the offense through both of its setters: Charis Burge and Mira Ledermueller. Burge has been the primary assister all season long, but both got similar playing time in the three-set match.
“We wanted to add another attacker in the front row,” Ganesharatnam said.
Having the ability to run a middle blocker and two pin hitters was imperative to Syracuse competing in the third set, after the adjustments were made.
SU had leads on the Tar Heels at multiple points throughout the match, trading points at the beginning of the first set and finding runs in the opening and middle sections of the third.
The Orange also found success in the serve-receive game. Each team had five service aces on the match, but one from libero Yuka Urano brought the final set within striking distance.
Both Kiernan Stamey and Marie Laurio swung at least 20 times but ended the night with only four kills and negative hitting percentages, often due to the North Carolina defensive front.
With every block, the congregation in Carmichael Arena grew louder and louder as the lead against Syracuse grew.
“I think the team did a good job not backing down, working actively to find solutions and embracing the challenge, which is not always easy to do, especially on the road in the ACC,” Ganesharatnam said.
Syracuse stays in North Carolina for the rest of this weekend, playing the Duke Blue Devils in Durham Sunday.