Sunday’s game against North Carolina State started in the same, albeit unconventional, manner it always does for Syracuse outside hitter Nicolette Serratore.

The senior waits for her name to be called in the starting lineup and runs past her teammates without giving them so much as a glance, only to turn back towards them and hit a dance move known as “the yeet” to a never failing chorus of laughter and smiles.

“At the beginning of the season, we decided that the seniors should do something a little bit special when we’re coming onto the court,” said Serratore while her teammate, outside hitter Santita Ebangwese, sat alongside her trying to conceal a wide grin. “Some of the younger girls decided that was a good thing that I could do… I haven’t perfected it yet.”

The popular dance move was far from the only special thing that Serratore was able to do during the four-set Syracuse (18-7, 9-5 ACC) win over NC State (14-12, 3-11 ACC). Serratore tallied the 1,000th kill of her career, a searing cross-court spike that brought the Orange to match point in the decisive fourth game.

Syracuse rolled through the first two games, winning both, 25-17, but hit the wall during a Wolf Pack run in the third. NC State picked up momentum after a 5-1 run staked them to a 19-14 lead. With every point, NC State grew more and more confident, letting out triumphant screams that rang throughout the court after every winner. On the other hand, the body language of the Orange deteriorated with each passing play, Syracuse looked as low as they could be until Head Coach Leonid Yelin began to interject.

Yelin, usually a reserved presence during and after points, began to gesture and yell instructions towards his players on the court. Yelin’s additional game management helped the Orange close the gap in the third, but the Orange ultimately dropped the set.

“It (was) too late,” said Yelin about his additional effort in the third. “Every time we come into the third game we talk about being as strong as before but it doesn’t work… I’m still trying to figure out what to say.”

However, the Orange was able to take control of the fourth set early, thanks to Outside Hitter Silvi Uattara bookending two consecutive service aces from Middle Blocker Leah Levert with kills. The Wolf Pack was unable to recover from the initial 4-1 deficit, and eventually lost the set, 25-16, and the match, 3-1.

Coach Yelin was appreciative of his team for “taking care of business” against what he considered to be a lesser opponent, but took a moment to appreciate Serratore’s efforts as well.

The outside hitter contributed 11 kills against NC State on Sunday and, according to Yelin, was of immeasurable value to the team over the four years prior.

“The record speaks for itself, (without her) we wouldn’t be here, and we wouldn’t have these kinds of players.”

Serratore personally had little to say about her 1,000th kill. In her eyes, anybody who plays four years should hope they reach this milestone in all that time. Looking back on the road to that accomplishment, Serratore was more proud of her contribution to Syracuse volleyball than anything else.

Rather than personal acclaim, Serratore said that she wants her legacy to be, “Any contribution I have (made) to make my teammates better for the future and just build the program and tradition that I know that Syracuse can have.”

Published on November 8, 2015 at 6:10 pm

Contact Chris: cplucey@syr.edu