Syracuse squeaks by Virginia in back-and-forth 5-setter
A hush fell over the Women’s Building as Gosia Wlaszczuk stepped up to the service line with Syracuse up 14-13 in the decisive fifth set against Virginia. The setter could finally end a game that had seen the Orange lose a first set tiebreaker, blow a two sets to one lead and force a tiebreak in the 5th.
“It was a crazy (fourth) set but going into the fifth set you’re not losing,” Wlaszczuk said. “…this is not an option.”
Wlaszczuk served the ball, watched the return come over the net and set up the winning kill for Syracuse outside hitter Monika Salkute.
The Orange won its sixth five-set match of the season against UVA (13-6, 5-3 Atlantic Coast), three sets to two, for its sixth conference victory. The win moves Syracuse (15-4, 6-2) into a tie for third place in the ACC with Pittsburgh and behind Florida State and Louisville.
Momentum shifted constantly throughout the contest. Syracuse found itself down 17-10 at in the first set, but found a way to climb back into the game during long rallies. The Orange tried to pass, set and kill the ball three times in one point alone to finally get the right ball to setter Silvi Uattara for a kill that put Syracuse within striking distance at 19-17.
The Orange won the second and third sets by 14 and seven points, respectively. The Syracuse frontcourt had the Cavaliers on their heels, registering 20 kills and four aces over the course of the two sets. Down 6-5 in the third set, Wlaszczuk went up for a kill, following a spike from outside hitter Nico Serratore, and tipped the ball over the UVA frontcourt.
Each of the three defensive specialists manning the Cavalier backcourt were caught off guard by the change-up, and each of them dove for the ball and landed in a pileup as it hit the floor just inches in front of them.
UVA forced a fifth set after regaining the speed of their middle attack and their frontcourt rhythm.
“They made (an) adjustment,” said SU head coach Leonid Yelin, “and by the time we adjusted we had already lost the set.”
The Cavaliers defense created opportunities for their offense to set up and finish 14 kills in the third set. UVA carried that momentum into the fifth set, battling to a 14-13 lead with Kayla Sears, the ACC leader in aces per set on serve.
Cavalier setter Lauren Fuller shouted, “we’re within two points, lets end this,” as Sears came up to the line. Her serve went straight into the net.
The Orange won the next two points to take the set 16-14, sealing a match once up in the air.
“We have a really big match coming after this one,” Salkute said. “…and now other teams can see how we’re playing.”