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Colgate volleyball hadn’t lost at home since Sep. 10, 2021. On Tuesday, the Raiders increased their unbeaten streak to 28 games over two years by comfortably handling Syracuse in three sets. The Orange have now lost seven of their eight matches in straight sets while dropping 22 of their first 25 sets of the season.

Throughout the contest, Colgate’s offense was far too powerful for Syracuse and Gillian Hauschild stood at the forefront of the Raiders’ dominance. The opposing hitter set a new career-high 13 kills against the Orange and managed just two errors.

Hauschild’s 13th and final kill came with Colgate leading 22-13 in the third set. Syracuse’s Melina Brooking dug Lilly Saleeby’s serve but the ball fell directly to a leaping Hauschild. She tipped the ball over an outstretched Brooking to generate a commanding 10-point Raider cushion.

While the Orange eventually won four of the set’s final six points, Hauschild’s timely play induced a timeout from SU head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam.

Still, not every set looked as grim for Syracuse. The second set started off with four consecutive kills from the visitors. The Orange’s lead grew to 7-2 after Cherlin Antonio notched her first Division I ace.

Antonio has emerged as a major offensive bright spot for SU despite the losses. The Iowa Western transfer totaled 18 kills in the Orange’s win over Cornell and finished with 14 versus Colgate. In eight games this season, Antonio has tallied 58 points in her last 13 sets.

Despite the best offensive efforts of Antonio and freshman Zharia Harris-Waddy, who registered six kills, SU struggled to hold its lead in the second set. A crucial service error by Harris-Waddy gave the Raiders a chance to serve with an 18-16 lead. An immediate ace by Rachael Martinez led to a quick SU timeout. Colgate still won three straight points out of the break, forcing yet another SU timeout.

Syracuse didn’t quite go away quietly, though. It recorded kills on 16 points. Blocks from McCabe and freshman Mira Ledermueller cut the Raiders’ lead to just four points. In response, Colgate called a timeout. Upon returning to play, Schlichter immediately committed an error, one of the visitors’ nine on the night, which lost the Orange the set.

SU didn’t win a single point, nor record an ace, until Colgate jumped out to a 9-4 advantage in the first set. Hauschild, Harper Snyder and Frances Torres led the Raiders’ efficient attack. Martinez had nine digs to lead Colgate’s defense and the setting duo of Claire Dewine and Sydney Jones each finished with double-digit assists.

During the opening set, Colgate hit a remarkable .444 to Syracuse’s lowly .045. Colgate wrapped up the first set, winning six of the last seven points to achieve a 25-12 finish.

Published on September 12, 2023 at 11:44 pm

Contact Sam: sefederm@syr.edu