Syracuse completes season sweep of Boston College in 5 sets

After losing to both Louisville and Notre Dame on the road last weekend, Syracuse rebounded with a come-from-behind, five-set win over Boston College on Sunday afternoon. This is Syracuse’s second victory against the Golden Eagles this season, with the Orange winning in Chestnut Hill on Nov. 6 in five sets. 

Sophomore outside hitter Polina Shemanova led Syracuse with a game high 24 kills and 11 digs. 

In the first set, the Orange (11-13, 8-9 Atlantic Coast) jumped out to a 20-18 lead over Boston College (19-11, 10-7) with strong play from sophomore setter Elena Karakasi. The first-year starter was key in providing Shemanova and fellow outside hitter Ella Saada easy opportunities for kills. Syracuse kept scoring runs alive by capitalizing off Boston College attacking errors. 

But back-to-back kills from Golden Eagle outside hitters Cat Balido and Carly Kutschke tied the set at 20. Then, a slew of errors from Syracuse gave Boston College a set point, and the Golden Eagles took the set, 25-23 on a hiy from Karakasi that was blocked by Amaka Chukwujekwu.

The Orange dominated Boston College for the early part of the second set. Solid play from junior middle blocker Dana Gardner forced Boston College into multiple attacking errors, as Syracuse secured a 20-14 lead with a kill from Saada. 

Errors from Shemanova and Saada, combined with consecutive kills from outside hitter Clare Naughton, cut Syracuse’s lead to 20-18. But Syracuse would hang on and win the set with three straight points, ending the set with a block from Gardner. 

The third set was defined by inconsistent play from both sides. Boston College opened the set strong, as stellar play from Naughton and Syracuse attacking errors led to nine unanswered points for the Golden Eagles, making the score 12-7. 

With the score of 14-8, two kills from Saada and four BC attacking errors drew the score level at 14. Boston College would find steady play toward the end of the set, as a kill from Jill Strockis won the set for Boston College, 25-21. 

The fourth set, though, was dominated by the Orange. Syracuse pushed the score to 24-12 behind Gardner and junior Yuliia Yastrub’s net play. SU won the set with a kill from Shemanova, forcing a fifth. 

Syracuse took the momentum gained from its fourth set performance into the decisive fifth. With the score tied at six, three kills from Shemanova sparked six straight points for the Orange. Later in the set, she forced match-point with her 24th kill. 

Karakasi won the match for the Orange with a soft tap over the net.

Syracuse concludes the regular season with a match against 11-win Clemson on Friday in the Women’s Building. The Orange won the first meeting in five sets, as Shemanova recorded 24 kills in the road win.