Syracuse bounces back with win against Kansas State in 4 sets

UPDATED: Sept. 2, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. EST

Syracuse (3-3) defeated Kansas State (2-3) in four sets on Friday night in the Kansas State tournament in Manhattan, Kansas. After falling in the first set, 17-25, the Orange swept the next three, 25-18, 25-22, 25-18, to earn its third win of the season.

A balanced attack led by Santita Ebangwese (14 kills), Ella Saada (11 kills), Kendra Lukacs (six kills) and Amber Witherspoon (six kills) powered Syracuse on the offensive front. Five players tallied assists, including Jalissa Trotter (24) and Annie Bozzo (13).

The two teams, each coming off losses earlier in the day, started the game trading points, until the score was even at 14. From then on, Kansas State took over. Three attack errors by Syracuse and three kills by junior outside hitter Alyssa Schultejans helped the tournament hosts take nine of the next ten points. The Wildcats bested the Orange in hitting percentage, .243 to .059, and took the first set, 25-17.

After conceding the first point of the second set, SU did not trail again en route to a 25-18 victory. The Orange went up 5-2 and from then on the Wildcats failed to cut the lead closer than three points. The Orange posted 16 kills, along with a hitting percentage of .333, while Kansas State tallied just eight kills with a hitting percentage of .069. Balanced attack was the theme of the set, with five different Syracuse players recording a kill before the team reached 10 points.

The Orange carried its strong play from the second set into the third, jumping out to a 6-1 advantage. The Wildcats battled back to gain a 13-11 lead, but a 9-2 run by Syracuse propelled by two aces and five Kansas State errors helped the SU regain a five point lead. Despite a hitting percentage of .062, Syracuse used 25 digs and three aces to win the third set, 25-22.

In the fourth set, the teams traded points until the score was knotted at eight. Syracuse used several different weapons on offense to create separation with kills coming from Ebangwese, Lukacs, Witherspoon, and Mariia Levanova in the second half of the set. While Kansas State recorded more kills (13 to 12), Syracuse made just three errors compared to the Wildcats’ 11. The Orange finished the fourth set on a 17-10 run, winning 25-18.

The story has been updated for appropriate style.