Syracuse volleyball crawls back against Virginia for first ACC win in over a year

By Ben Anderson

  

 Instead of receiving an early Christmas gift, you can say that Syracuse volleyball received extra Halloween candy, as they picked up its first ACC win in over a year, defeating Virginia 3-1 at the Women’s Building Friday night. 

    The squad entered with the expectation to win, and finally met that expectation. “I think we’re gonna start with my expectations.” Kiernan Stamey said. 

    Virginia took momentum early with pinpoint attacks that the Orange was unable to respond to.

    After taking an early 7-1 lead, the Cavaliers had all the momentum and getting that win was very much in doubt. until the Orange finally scored consecutive points to make it 8-3. 

    The Orange exploded on their best scoring run afterwards to cut the deficit to 8-5, by going on a four-point run Off a couple of bad plays by the Cavaliers.

    Virginia however, did not back down, using their quickness and great team chemistry to its advantage to take a 15-11 lead entering the first set media timeout. 

    Syracuse struggled answering to Virginia’s service attack as entering the media timeout Virginia had four service aces. 

    The Cavaliers continued firing on all cylinders after the break, going on a 2-1 run and forcing Ganesharatnam to call timeout to regroup his squad. 

    After an opening ace by Olivia Sislen and a kill by Emily Fowler for Virginia. Syracuse responded with a 4-0 run to force Virginia to call a timeout. 

    After the timeout, Virginia did what they did best throughout the first half, coming out of the break swinging. The Cavaliers forced SU to call its last timeout of the set, after exploding on 3-0 run to take a 22-16 lead on two kills and a block from Ohio State transfer Reese Wuebker. 

    Virginia sealed the door in set one, finishing the set on a 6-2 run after the Orange cut the deficit to three at 19-16.

    The Cavaliers had five service aces in the first set. A set that Virginia never lost the lead nor allowed Syracuse to tie. 

    Syracuse showed a new energy in the second set, presenting more aggression and confidence. The Orange used their momentum to take a 7-5 lead after their largest scoring run of the match up to that point with a 5-0 run following two errors and three straight kills by SU to force UVA to call timeout. 

    Despite the fiery attack from Virginia. Syracuse found themselves leading at the second set media timeout 15-13, with the majoring of the points coming off nine kills.

    After the media timeout, Syracuse and Virginia traded blows back and forth with neither team able to find a way to run away with the set with the matches having to go to extra points to determine a winner.

    After the gladiator battle in the second set which saw 13 ties and nine lead changes, the Orange prevailed to pick up its second set victory in ACC play 26-24. The biggest factor in the set for the Orange was capitalizing on seven attacking errors from Virginia. 

    “I’m really happy for all the players,” Ganesharatnam said. “I thought they showed a lot of heart and determination.”

    Virginia fired back in set three going on a 9-4 run to start the third set. The Orange clawed their way back to tie it at 11 off five errors from UVA. 

    The Orange took control of the third set, winning 25-23 after a kill from Kiernan Stamey to give Syracuse its first match lead in ACC play this season, 2-1. 

    Syracuse, in scratching distance of their first ACC win of the season, showed just how hungry they were for the dub in the fourth set. The Orange electrified the Women’s Building by starting on a 4-0 run. Virginia would not go down without a fight, answering back with a 5-0 run of their own.

    The fourth set was the matter of big runs, with Syracuse and Virginia trading runs of four and five points, before the Orange exploded on a 5-0 run as the Orange took the lead at the media timeout for the third straight set. 

    “I know this win is long overdue,” Orange head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam said. “We had some really good matches before this as well, that did not result in wins.”

    Syracuse continued to battle and clinched the victory 25-19 to start the celebration in the 315. 

    “I thought Virginia did a really good job,” Ganesharatnam said. “They’re big and physical. The block obviously is a big challenge and they did a really good job on the defensive end.”

    The win gives the Orange their first ACC victory at home since October 17, 2025 when it swept Duke.

    Stamey led the way for the Orange with a double-double, her third of the season. She finished with 15 kills and 18 digs.

    For the first time in conference play this season, Syracuse outhit their opponent, outhitting the Cavaliers .133 to .111. 

    “It was great today,” Stamey said about the team's offensive performance. “I think Charis did a great job of distributing her sets against that team. They have a big block everywhere. Kudos to her to find the holes for us and us taking advantage of it.”

    With the win Syracuse improved to 6-12 (1-8). Virginia with the loss fell to 6-12 (2-7)

    Syracuse returns to action on Sunday when it welcomes Virginia Tech. First serve from the Women’s Building is set for 1 p.m.