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The Daily OrangeVB | Missed opportunities plague SU in season-ending loss
By David DeGuzman
Posted: 11/24/08, 5:45 PM EST Section: Sports
A win over Louisville would have given Syracuse their first Big East tournament victory. It would have been redemption for their four-set loss to the Cardinals earlier in the season. Syracuse wanted to prove that they could compete with the best of the Big East.
Instead for the Orange, all it was left with was missed opportunities after being swept by Louisville in the first round of the Big East tournament.
"Even though we lost in three, I felt that it was a better match than the last time we saw them," assistant coach Carol LaMarche said. "We were better prepared this time around."
Syracuse had four chances to win the first set. Instead, on the game's last point the ball fell between juniors Kacie MacTavish and Shanetha McLaurin, each expecting the other to play the ball. Then they looked at each other as Louisville won the first set, 29-27.
"We sort of gave Louisville that last point," LaMarche said.
Then the Orange had a dismal showing in the second set. Louisville went on a 15-6 scoring run and led 18-9 at one point before clinching a two set lead.
Syracuse played competitively in the third set and was two points away from extending the match when the two sides were tied at 23 and again at 24. But the Orange was denied once again and they finished their second straight season without a postseason win.
"I think it was a mix of emotions for sure. It felt very bittersweet. We felt relieved that the season is over." Kanemura said. "It was a little disheartening. I think we knew we could have at least taken a set from them."
But keeping the match close was difficult enough. The Orange dealt with a powerful front line led by Jana Matiasovska, who led the team with 16 of Louisville's 45 total kills. Five of the 16 kills were made in the second set alone. Many of Syracuse's attacks were blocked by junior Lecia Brown. At 5-foot-10, her jumping ability enabled her to block four balls and make eight kills in the match.
Instead for the Orange, all it was left with was missed opportunities after being swept by Louisville in the first round of the Big East tournament.
"Even though we lost in three, I felt that it was a better match than the last time we saw them," assistant coach Carol LaMarche said. "We were better prepared this time around."
Syracuse had four chances to win the first set. Instead, on the game's last point the ball fell between juniors Kacie MacTavish and Shanetha McLaurin, each expecting the other to play the ball. Then they looked at each other as Louisville won the first set, 29-27.
"We sort of gave Louisville that last point," LaMarche said.
Then the Orange had a dismal showing in the second set. Louisville went on a 15-6 scoring run and led 18-9 at one point before clinching a two set lead.
Syracuse played competitively in the third set and was two points away from extending the match when the two sides were tied at 23 and again at 24. But the Orange was denied once again and they finished their second straight season without a postseason win.
"I think it was a mix of emotions for sure. It felt very bittersweet. We felt relieved that the season is over." Kanemura said. "It was a little disheartening. I think we knew we could have at least taken a set from them."
But keeping the match close was difficult enough. The Orange dealt with a powerful front line led by Jana Matiasovska, who led the team with 16 of Louisville's 45 total kills. Five of the 16 kills were made in the second set alone. Many of Syracuse's attacks were blocked by junior Lecia Brown. At 5-foot-10, her jumping ability enabled her to block four balls and make eight kills in the match.
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