In just over an hour, the Syracuse University women’s volleyball team cruised to its second victory of the day against Delaware State University in the Candlewood Suites Challenge. Syracuse (3-5) played efficiently on offense and defense throughout the contest to prevent Delaware State (0-4) from earning its first win of the season. The Orange won in three sets: 25-12, 25-13 and 25-12. Syracuse was directed by sophomore outside hitter Silvi Uattara, who led the team in points (12) and kills (11). Junior outside hitter Nicolette Serratore also performed well, leading the team with eight digs and contributing six kills.“I think we just had an awesome game,” Serratore said. “We really stepped up and played the way that we’d been practicing, and everything was just executed perfectly. It was just a good way to gain our confidence and really know that we are able to go out there and play the way we know we can.” Freshman Erica Handley put in another exceptional performance tonight, leading the Orange with 28 assists. In comparison, Delaware State had a total of 22 assists in tonight’s match. “She’s had a big impact,” said redshirt junior outside hitter Lindsay McCabe – Syracuse’s all-time leader in career hitting percentage – of Handley. “It’s a lot of pressure to come in as a freshman and lead the team as the setter, and I think she’s doing a great job.”Syracuse’s efforts on both sides of the ball proved to be the difference. The Orange never trailed throughout the first two sets. In the third set, Syracuse trailed briefly, but by stringing three or more consecutive points on four separate occasions, it regained a lead that it would not relinquish to finish off Delaware State. Syracuse was outnumbered in attack attempts, but the Orange did outnumber Delaware State in kills, assists, block assists, digs and service aces.“We have to know how to beat teams who are not better than us, and so far so good,” head coach Leonid Yelin said. Jes Russell-Croucher led the Delaware State Hornets with 10 points, scoring all of them via kills, but Syracuse was able to establish home-court advantage and had momentum from start to finish.The Orange will take on the Chicago State Cougars (2-8) in its final game of the Candlewood Suites Challenge on Saturday Sept. 14th at 11:30 a.m. before they travel to West Lafayette, Ind. next weekend for the Purdue Active Ankle Challenge.
