SU seniors take charge seeking program’s 1st NCAA tournament
Before last Friday’s ACC opener against Georgia Tech, Syracuse players linked arms and formed a circle behind their bench with senior Santita Ebangwese and redshirt senior Christina Oyawale in the center, swinging side to side. When the two seniors shouted “S who?,” the remainder of the team responded with “SU!”
As the speed of the chant increased and the players began to sway faster, Ebangwese and Oyawale started jumping up and down and yelling louder. Then, the Orange closed in on each other and broke their huddle before they went out and defeated the Yellow Jackets in straight sets.
Much like that pregame ritual, this year’s Orange are centered around the leadership of its seniors. With only one season remaining in the six seniors’ time at SU (6-4, 2-0 Atlantic Coast), it’s their last chance to complete their goal since they were freshmen: make the NCAA Tournament. If they were to accomplish this, it would mark the first NCAA appearance in the program’s history.
“(They) understand this is their last chance,” head coach Leonid Yelin said, “and I think it’s more important they feel they can do this.”
While her teammates played the Yellow Jackets, Oyawale wore sweatpants tucked into white socks and flip-flops and wasn’t able to assume her usual middle blocker and outside hitter spots on the court. She hadn’t played since the team’s second game of the season, until she made her return in Sunday’s victory over Clemson.
Having her ankle wrapped and being forced to stay on the sidelines didn’t stop Oyawale from making her presence known. Leading with her energy, she followed through on one of the aspects the seniors believe will carry them this season.
Last season, the Orange qualified for the first postseason tournament in program history, although it wasn’t the one they wanted. Invited to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship after a 22-14 record, including 12-8 in the Atlantic Coast, they won their first two matches before falling to West Virginia, 3-0, in the quarterfinals. This season, Syracuse hopes the NIVC serves as a stepping stone into the NCAAs.
“Mentally, it was just like, ‘We can do it,’” middle blocker Amber Witherspoon said. “The heart, we have that. The athleticism, we have that. We have the talent, we have the coaches. What makes us so different that we can’t get to the tournament?”
Immediately after their final match, the then-juniors had a conversation about how to maximize their final season. They wanted to have high energy levels and build mental stamina. The seniors took it upon themselves during the offseason to make sure those aspects were addressed.
“We need to come out and … make sure that everyone is on the same page,” Witherspoon said. “If they don’t want to be, then that’s on them. But we’re going to find six people on this court that are going to be able to perform.”
Against Georgia Tech, the Orange found that right mix. The Orange found themselves down by seven twice in the second set, including 23-16. Closing the game on an 11-2 run, they stormed back to take the set from the Yellow Jackets.
During the comeback, Oyawale high-fived players as they subbed out and danced with teammates during timeouts to lighten the mood. Ebangwese, who Yelin referred to as “the heart and soul of the team,” and Witherspoon gave emotional screams after their kills. Fans chanted “Let’s Go ‘Cuse,” which echoed off the Women’s Building walls and contributed to the energetic atmosphere.
The seniors know that if they continued to stick to their plan, the season ahead of them could be special. But they aren’t letting themselves get caught up with what might happen at the end of the year.
“At this point, we’ve just got to take it game by game,” Ebangwese said, “and we want to make it an unforgettable season.”