Syracuse closes regular season with straight-set win over Clemson

In its final game of the season, Syracuse (12-13, 9-9 Atlantic Coast) defeated Clemson (11-18, 5-13) in straight sets. The Orange closed out the regular season on a six-match home winning streak after dropping their first three games of the season at the Women’s Building. With the victory, head coach Leonid Yelin reached 600 career wins, becoming only the 18th Division I coach to achieve the feat.

To begin the first frame, both sides traded points to come to a tie at 6-6. After a Berkley Hayes service error, the Orange made a change: Setter Elena Karakasi handled service duties. The move sparked an 8-0 SU run as the Clemson back row struggled to effectively return Karakasi’s low, line-drive serves. Despite the Tigers cutting Syracuse’s lead to just two points later in the set, a timeout by Yelin refocused the Orange, who rebounded to take the set 25-22. 

In the second set, Clemson’s middle blockers thwarted numerous Syracuse attacks, allowing the Tigers to open an 18-12 advantage midway through the frame. Following a first set marred by three attacking errors, Polina Shemanova began to find her rhythm, tallying seven kills in the second set from numerous positions on the court. After a Clemson attacking error gave the Orange their first lead of the set, 22-21, they allowed the Tigers just two more points in the frame, winning 25-23. 

Shemanova’s dominance continued into the third set with the sophomore standout recording another nine kills in the set to eventually finish with a match-high 22. Though the Tigers kept the two previous frames close, Syracuse’s second-set comeback derailed any momentum gained from that. 

The Orange earned 12 match points, up 24-12, and Shemanova’s ensuing kill — just as she had done in the two sets prior — ended the frame and this time the match. As Shemanova’s kill painted the backline, the Syracuse bench sprinted onto the court to celebrate, while the crowd at the Women’s Building showed their appreciation with a standing ovation. 

Before the match, libero Aliah Bowllan and outside hitter Kendra Lukacs were honored as part of senior day celebrations. Bowllan didn’t feature in the match due to an injury suffered in a Nov. 17 match against Notre Dame. In her place, Lukacs, who has split time in her career at outside hitter and libero, filled in and recorded 12 digs and five assists. 

Last week, Yelin praised the senior duo, highlighting their contributions in Syracuse’s first ever NCAA tournament appearance last season and the pair’s ability to battle through injuries. 

“(Bowllan’s) a tough kid,” Yelin said. “We were playing Boston College, she couldn’t even walk in the game. What she got (in her career) she worked hard for.”