Black Knights Hold off Orange

Match 8
SCORE	Army 3, Syracuse 1
RECORDS	Army (3-5), Syracuse (3-4)
LOCATION	Syracuse, NY
TOURNAMENT	Syracuse Tournament

SYRACUSE, N.Y. --- Army West Point Volleyball opened the Syracuse Tournament with a 3-1 victory over the host, Syracuse, on Thursday afternoon.

It was a back-and-forth battle between the two teams from the start of the match. Kai Nickerson and Allanah Cutler scored the first points for Army off a block assist. Syracuse jumped in front, 5-2, but Nickerson and Mackenzie Lynch teamed up for a block assist to rally a 5-0 scoring run for Army. The Black Knights reached 20 points first off a kill from Lynch (20-16). Syracuse called a timeout and went on a 5-0 scoring run for another lead change (20-21). Army took advantage of Syracuse's errors to get to set point and Lynch threw down the kill that secured the win, 25-22.

Army picked up where it left off jumping to a 5-1 lead over Syracuse.The Orange's offense gave Army some trouble later in the match, taking a 15-13 lead over the Black Knights. A service error by Syracuse started a small rally for the Black Knights (16-15). Army reached 20 first and coasted to the 25-19 victory. Cutler was stellar as she reached 11 kills in two sets, leading all players. Army hit .303 in the set and held Syracuse to .114.

Errors got the best of Army in the third set, allowing Syracuse to dominant. The Orange's offense gave the Cadets trouble as it hit .407 to take the set 25-14.

Army bounced back in the fourth set. The teams traded points in the opening of the set but Army rallied a 4-0 scoring run, 6-2. Paige Fixemer threw down a kill that pushed the Black Knights to 15 first. The Black Knights kept the momentum to coast to 20 first (20-16). Syracuse did not go down easily as the team fought back to get within two of the Black Knights (22-20). Lynch sealed the victory with a monster kill (25-22).

MACKENZIE LYNCH!! ARMY WINS ??

?? ACCNX#GoArmy pic.twitter.com/ZUo7xIuCI9
— Army Volleyball (@ArmyWP_VB) September 8, 2022

QUOTABLE
"As coaches we are incredibly proud of the entire team's fight and grit! Syracuse is an ACC team and at times they showed their high level of play. Our team didn't allow them to play at that level, we frustrated them with our defense and continued to be efficient, scoring points when it matters. Everyone that came in the game from the bench, flat out produced and it was great to see. We will need everyone to perform this season and today, we showed our depth. Just proud of our team's performance. We will rest and get ready to play a great Yale team tomorrow!" – Alma Kovaci Lee

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Cutler had 14 kills.
Paige Fixemer had 11 kills and hit .474.
Sayler Butters had 20 digs for Army.

UP NEXT
Army battles Yale on Friday, Sept. 9, at 2 p.m. on the second day of the Syracuse Tournament.

Follow Along
For complete coverage of Army West Point women's volleyball, follow the Black Knights on Twitter and Instagram at @ArmyWP_VB and online at www.goarmywestpoint.com.

Army West Point Athletics

Black Knights Hold off Orange

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Players Mentioned

Sayler Butters

Allanah Cutler

Paige Fixemer

Mackenzie Lynch

Kai Nickerson

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