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A year ago, Syracuse volleyball lost all 18 Atlantic Coast Conference games, ending the season with a 2-26 record. While the Orange had a multitude of troubles in different areas, their lack of offense was one of their core issues.

They struggled with consistency, going eight matches without winning a single set and totaling a 0.077% hitting percentage through their first six games.

Now, to start 2024, SU’s offense has newfound success, improving its hit percentage by 274% to a 0.288% mark through six games. The improvements have led to the Orange (6-0, 0-0 ACC) winning three times as many games as last year thus far.

“Last season we had a pretty good squad together,” Syracuse head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam said. “Obviously the unfortunate situation with all the injuries …made it very difficult for us to pursue the goals we had set up for the season originally. So we really got together and regrouped and readdressed some of the goals.”

Ganesharatnam aimed to rectify his team’s dysfunctional season through offseason and preseason training. The progress continued into the early portion of the season through nonconference competition. Ganesharatnam cited the time as an opportunity to build his rotation, while forming chemistry within the group.

Sophomore Veronica Sierzant, who appeared in all 28 matches for the Orange in 2023, said this preseason felt more intense because they weren’t as concerned about injuries and focused mainly on their typical positioning.

After evaluating his roster through nonconference play, Ganesharatnam plans to run a diverse offense, utilizing multiple hitters to allow individual players to maintain their composure as the season wanes on.

With SU’s injury-riddled roster in 2023, the game plan was near impossible to execute. With a flurry of new talent, however, it’s been successful thus far.

Ayush Sawant | Design Editor

Five of Syracuse’s 12 transfers are leading the team in kills, with graduate transfer Ava Palm leading the way at 82 — the fifth-most in the ACC. Palm averages 3.9 kills per set and boasts a 0.250% hitting percentage, while also ranking top five in aces, digs and blocks.

Palm’s best outing came in SU’s Sept. 6 win over Fordham at the Big Apple Tournament, where she recorded 19 kills and 23 points. Early in her new role, she’s thrived.

“I love the position I play, I want the ball,” Palm said. “I think it helps having that mindset.”

Leading the charge offensively with Palm is outside hitter Skylar George. The redshirt freshman holds the second most kills at 57 and has played in all 21 sets so far this season after her transfer from Utah. She was a crucial part of SU’s offense in its win against Manhattan, playing in all four sets and ending the game with 13 kills and 19.5 points.

Sydney Moore, a graduate transfer from Cornell, has recorded 43 kills. She currently holds the third-best hitting percentage in the ACC (0.467%). Graduate student Sara Wasiakowska and junior Anastasiia Nikolnikova round out the leaders for kills, recording 38 and 16, respectively.

With new roster additions, the Orange also have critical returning players boosting their offensive success.

Sophomore Mira Ledermueller leads the team in assists with a total of 108, already beating her season high from last year. Ledermueller recorded 43 assists against Fordham this season, versus her 36 against Cornell in 2023. Sierzant is just behind her with 89 assists, despite having only played in three games.

At the end of the 2023 season, the team’s hitting percentage was just 0.088%. Prior to 2023, Syracuse’s hitting percentage didn’t dip below 0.10% in the past 17 seasons. The average kills per set also saw a significant uptick, increasing from an average of nine in 2023 to 12.5 in 2024.

While the Orange have had just six games in the 2024 season, an increase in kills and attacks has led to a strong start for the program. SU’s offensive improvements have not only bolstered its performance, but positioned Syracuse as a threat nearing ACC play.

“I think a big identity for this program is just believing in us,” Palm said. “If you don’t believe in yourself, no one will.”

Published on September 12, 2024 at 1:07 am

Contact Vivian: vpcollins06@gmail.com