Syracuse leans on experience to excel in 5-set matches

Syracuse hitter Monika Salkute took two long strides and left her feet as setter Gosia Wlaszczuk set a pass on the right side of the net. Salkute whipped her arm through the kill, driving home a narrow Syracuse victory in the fifth set of its matchup with Virginia on Sunday.

The fifth set has not been unfamiliar territory for the Orange this season — Sunday’s win was its second five-set win in the last three games. SU has found success in its matchups that have gone the distance, winning all four of its five-set matches.

Proficiency in the fifth set has been the difference for Syracuse thus far in the season after the Orange lost every five-set match it played last season. SU (15-4, 6-2 Atlantic Coast) knows it can lean back on prior success if its match with No. 17 Florida State (15-4, 8-0) on Friday at 7 p.m. in the Women’s Building goes the distance.

“Losing a match in five sets is a disaster,” Wlaszczuk said after edging Virginia Tech 3-2 on Oct. 11. “To come so close and to be on the court for two hours and then let it go is heartbreaking.”

Wlaszczuk and fellow senior hitters Nico Seratorre, Silvi Uattara and Monika Salkute factored in on 12 of the 16 points the Orange needed to take the fifth set against the Cavaliers. Head coach Leonid Yelin credited the experience and intensity of his front line and setter as the crucial edge that the Orange possesses late in games.

“Volleyball is a game of ups and downs, upperclassmen have more experience and can sustain focus much longer,” Yelin said. “They know what they have to do on the court and they do it, it’s game-changing right away.”

Syracuse out-killed the Cavaliers 9-8 in the fifth set on 25 attempts. Wlaszczuk tallied six assists during the fifth, and freshman hitter Santita Ebangwese said that her consistency in the setter role is crucial going down the stretch in games.

“It helps me to know that she’s consistent. When I call for the ball I know that its gonna be there and its gonna be a good set that I can put away and make good decisions (with).”

The Orange’s ability to win five-set matches comes as no surprise to Wlaszczuk, who hasn’t noticed her team succumb to the fatigue of drawn out matches.

“There is no tired, both teams are tired but we’re trying to kill points and dig. There is no excuse as being tired.”