Louisville comes back to top Syracuse, 3-2, in regular season finale

Syracuse (20-13, 12-8 Atlantic Coast) was defeated by Louisville (24-6, 18-2), 3-2, to close out the regular season Friday at the Women’s Building. SU had a chance to play spoiler, but the Cardinals clinched the conference title, coming from two sets down to rescue the win. This was the second-consecutive five-set match for SU and the fourth of the season.

Offensively, Syracuse was led by its two middle blockers, Santita Ebangwese and Amber Witherspoon. Playing without leading attacker Anastasiya Gorelina, the Orange looked inside for offense. Witherspoon tallied 12 kills, while Ebangwese added 10.

Even though the Orange came up short, the SU frontline stifled the Cardinals’ attack for much of the afternoon. Witherspoon registered nine blocks, with Ebangwese and Christina Oyawale adding five each.

The Orange used a quick 5-0 run to take an 11-7 lead early in the match. The two teams continued to exchange points until the Orange found itself leading, 22-21, late in the first set. Louisville won three-straight points to take a 24-22 lead, but Syracuse saved both set points. In the extended first set, a Witherspoon kill and Louisville attack error gave the Orange the opening set, 27-25. Witherspoon registered four blocks in the opening set, and her presence above the net contributed to Louisville’s nine attack errors.

Neither team held more than a two-point lead in the opening half of the second set until a 4-1 Orange run gave it a 19-16 lead. Despite six service errors in the second set, SU held off Louisville thanks to its effective blocking. The Cardinals cut the lead to 21-20, winning four of five points, before Ebangwese registered a critical kill and block alongside Jalissa Trotter to give SU a three-point lead. The Orange wasted two set points, but won the set, 25-23, on a left-handed Trotter kill.

Coming out of the break, Louisville used a 5-1 run to open up an 11-6 lead over the Orange. Louisville maintained the five-point lead for the majority of the thrid set, as the Cardinals improved their efficiency and cut down on attack errors. Trailing 22-17, the Orange won three consecutive points to get within two, but Louisville won three of the final four to take the set, 25-21, on a Melanie McHenry kill.

The Cardinals used the momentum from the third set to continue the comeback into the fourth. Louisville scored eight of the opening 10 points of the set, with four kills by Tess Clark. SU rallied to cut the Cardinals lead to 10-8, but Louisville pulled further ahead, ending the set on an 8-3 run to win, 25-15, and level the match, 2-2.

Syracuse regained its footing in the final set, going toe-to-toe with the ACC champions. Neither side led by more than two for the opening 18 points of the final set, as the teams found themselves level at nine. With Syracuse up 10-9, the Orange appeared to have taken a two-point lead on a Louisville attack error. However, the Cardinals challenged, the call was overturned, and the match was again level. Louisville went on to win the next four points, taking a 14-10 lead and never looking back. The Cardinals completed the comeback, winning the set, 15-12.

Syracuse finishes the regular season 20-13, including an 8-2 home conference record. The Orange now awaits its postseason fate.