Orange Take Down Tar Heels

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Syracuse volleyball (9-9, 5-3 ACC) put itself back in the win column on Sunday afternoon by taking down North Carolina (11-8, 3-5 ACC) in five sets (19-25, 25-21, 25-17, 17-25, 15-7) inside Carmichael Arena.
 
The Orange trailed the Tar Heels for the entirety of the first frame before bouncing back and capturing a crucial second set. Set two was the closest frame of the day and featured eighth score-tying moments along with five lead changes. SU’s momentum stretched further into the third set, which the Orange captured 25-17. The eigh-point set victory was Syracuse’s largest of the day. After dropping the fourth set to tie the match 2-2, the Orange raced to 15 to secure the victory. Two four-point runs from Syracuse to make it 10-3 in the fifth set helped to lock down the fifth frame, as the Orange defense only allowed for additional points from the Tar Heels before securing the victory.
 
‘Cuse paced North Carolina in points (79-74), kills (62-53), blocks (12-10), assists (60-49) and digs (69-60).
 
Outside hitters Polina Shemanova and Viktoriia Lokhmanchuk doubled down in today’s showdown. Shemanova recorded a match-high 21 kills and 19 digs, while Lokhmanchuk logged 16 kills and 15 digs. Junior outside hitter Naomi Franco was the only other Orange to punch in double-digit kills with 14.
 
The setting duo of Riley Hoffman (28) and Lauren Woodford (21) combined for a total of 49…