Polina Shemanova wins 3rd straight ACC player of the week

For the third consecutive week, Polina Shemanova was named the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the week. Shemanova has been dominant during Syracuse’s season-long five match win streak, averaging 25.8 kills per match in that span. 

In a five set victory over Boston College last Wednesday, Shemanova recorded 32 kills — good for third-most in program history – to go along with three aces . That came just three days after breaking the school record with 36 kills in another five set triumph over Louisville. 

Against a struggling Virginia Tech team on Sunday, Shemanova was quieter, recording 17 kills and an ace in the straight-set win. Still, Shemanova’s .469 hitting percentage in the victory was her highest all season.

After being named ACC freshman of the year last year and to the preseason All-ACC team before this season, Shemanova has maintained her success. Currently, Shemanova leads all ACC players with 408 kills, while her average of 5.16 kills per set is 1.1 kills more than Florida State’s Payton Caffrey, who is second in the conference in kills per set. 

Shemanova and the Orange will look to extend their winning streak this weekend with a road trip to face Louisville and Notre Dame on Friday and Sunday, respectively.