Syracuse holds off Clemson comeback in 3-1 win

Seniors Silvi Uattara and Monika Salkute led the Orange (12-2, 2-0 Atlantic Coast) to a 3-1 victory over Clemson on Sunday with 14 kills a piece.

It was the second straight win against an ACC opponent to start the year.

In the first set, the Orange and the Tigers were alternating control of the lead, neither team separating itself by more than a three-point margin.

But after the score was tied 20-20, the Orange began to take control, winning the next four points.

The Tigers responded, winning the next three points, but the effort was insufficient as the Orange took the first set 25-23.

The second game was all Syracuse as the Orange never looked back after taking a 2-1 lead early on a Lou Davis service error.

The Orange kill leader, Uattara, finished off the game with one of her 14 kills to give Syracuse the 25-19 win and a 2-0 lead in sets.

The third set started off like the second. The Orange had complete control, as its lead reached a high of five at 12-7.

The Tigers finished off the set winning eight of the last 10 points to take the third set, 25-23.

The fourth set proved to be much of the same from both teams. Each team traded points, but neither one took control. When the Orange took the lead at 22-18 on a service error, the Tiger’s quickly fought back, winning two straight points, making it just a two-point deficit at 22-20.

The quick surge forced Orange coach Leonid Yellin to use a timeout. Coming out of the timeout, the Tigers trimmed the lead down to one on an ace by freshman Kailey Harvell, making it 22-21.

However, the Orange proved to be too much, as Salkute finished off the Tigers with a kill. The Orange look to continue its ACC success at Louisville on Friday night.