Creighton University
4-0
SYRACUSE
3-1
Volleyball Sweeps Syracuse, Moves to 4-0
8/31/2012 8:27:00 PM | Volleyball
OMAHA, Neb. -- Leah McNary had a match-high 12 kills on .524 hitting to lead the Creighton Volleyball to a 3-0 sweep of previouslyunbeaten Syracuse on Friday.
Scores of the match in Creighton's favor were 25-19, 25-20, 25-13.
The victory helps CU to a 4-0 record on the young season for just the third time in program history. With a win Saturday morning vs. No. 21 Kansas State (4-0), the Jays will match their best start ever at 5-0.
The first set was the closest of the match, with Syracuse (3-1) owning a 13-11 lead before the Jays put the hammer down. A 5-0 run with freshman Ashley Jansen at the service line helped the Jays take an 18-14 edge. The Orange would close within 18-17 and force a CU timeout, but the Jays responded with seven of the next nine points to close out the set, 25-19.
Syracuse built a 7-4 lead in the second set, before Creighton tied the frame at 11-all. CU rallied behind the serving of Megan Bober, as the senior uncorked an 8-0 run that removed any doubt of a 25-20 triumph. McNary had six kills on nine swings in the second set, as Creighton hit .367.
Creighton cruised to the sweep in the final set, winning 25-13. Creighton would score three consecutive points (or more) on five different occasions en route to closing out the Orange. McNary had four more kills, including one on match point to seal it.
McNary's 12 kills led a balanced Bluejay attack, as Jereb (8 kills), Kelli Browning (7) and Heather Thorson (6) also hit at a better than .300 rate. Kate Elman led CU with 14 digs and two aces, while Brooke Boggs also added 10 digs and tied a career-best with two kills. Creighton finished with 42 kills, six aces, 39 digs and six blocks while hitting .395.
Syracuse was led by nine kills from Nicolette Serratore, while Melina Violas topped SU with seven digs. The Orange hit .194 and finished with 34 kills, one aces, 33 digs and four blocks.
Kansas State swept Denver (25-16, 25-15, 25-19), to open play at the Bluejay Invitational.
The Bluejay Invitational concludes on Saturday with four matches. Denver plays Syracuse at 10 am before Creighton hosts No. 21 Kansas State in a Noon match-up. Tomorrow night's session features Syracuse taking on Kansas State at 5:30 pm before Creighton wraps up play with a 7:30 pm contest vs. Denver.
