Despite 20 kills from freshman Shemanova, SU drops its 3rd straight game to Marquette

Syracuse (2-3) lost its third-straight game in a four-set defeat to No. 25 Marquette (7-2), 3-1. SU freshman Polina Shemanova led the way with 20 kills. She now leads the Orange with 89 kills, more than double the amount of any other Syracuse player.

In the opening set, Syracuse struggled near the net. SU had 13 kills, the same amount as Marquette, while attempting seven more attacks than the Golden Eagles. The Orange totaled six attacking errors and two service errors, as well.

With the score tied at three early in the first set, Marquette won six of the next nine points. From that point on, Syracuse couldn’t scrape within two points of the Golden Eagles. Eventually, Marquette pulled away late, taking the first set 25-17.

Up by one point late in the second set, Syracuse turned to its two star outside hitters.  Behind the Russian duo of Shemanova and senior Mariia Levanova, the Orange won seven of the last nine points. The pair combined for ten kills in the second set, including three in the final five points. SU’s outside hitters dictated, tallying an attack percentage of .393, totaling 14 kills on 28 attempts. Syracuse won the second set 25-19.

Syracuse continued its hot streak into the third set. The Orange opened up a 7-3 lead early behind three kills from Shemanova and two from senior Santita Ebangwese, but Marquette rebounded by winning five of seven points to tie the set back up at 11. From that point forward, neither team led by more than three points. After tying the score at 22, Marquette won two of the next three points and eventually won the fourth set 25-23.

The beginning of the fourth set was more of the same. The two teams split the first 18 points as neither led by more than two points. With the score tied at nine, Marquette knocked off 12 of 14 points to take a nine-point lead. The Golden Eagles cruised to a 25-15 fourth-set victory.

After winning the first two games of its season, SU has now lost its last three. The Orange will travel to Ames, Iowa for the Iowa State tournament next weekend. Syracuse faces Wyoming on Friday, Sept. 14 at 4:30 p.m.