Boston College left Syracuse with a clean sweep Wednesday night, handling the Orange in straight sets, 25-14, 25-22, 25-15, at the Women’s Building.
The Eagles got balanced production across the floor, but Sam Hoppes set the tone offensively with a match-best 12 kills while hitting .526. Audrey Ross turned in a double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs, and she also chipped in three assists and a service ace. Naomi Watson added eight kills on a .353 clip and led Boston College with four blocks, while Isabelle Poehlein contributed five kills at .333 hitting and two blocks.
Boston College also got steady work in the back row and at setter. Brooklyn Yelland finished with 12 digs and 10 assists, Lucie Vesela posted 17 assists, six digs and four aces, and Ava McBride added 10 assists and four digs.
The Eagles grabbed control early in the first set and never let Syracuse get comfortable. Boston College hit .382 in the frame and used a 6-0 burst with Vesela at the service line to turn a 10-8 edge into a 16-8 cushion. Ross and Hoppes each finished points during that stretch, Vesela served up two aces, and McBride later put the set away with a kill for the 25-14 finish.
Set two was tighter, with Syracuse hanging around after Boston College opened a 10-6 lead on a Watson kill. The Orange pulled even at 17-17, but the Eagles answered with a 3-0 run that included a Vesela ace and a block from Watson and Ross. Ross then added another ace to make it 23-19, and Hoppes closed the door with late kills as Boston College took the set 25-22 and moved ahead 2-0.
The third set followed a similar script, only Boston College made its push even earlier. With Vesela serving, the Eagles ripped off an 8-0 run that featured kills from Ross, Hoppes and Watson, plus another ace from Vesela, to build a 12-2 lead.
Syracuse cut into it briefly, but Yelland answered with an ace and Poehlein finished off consecutive points to stretch the margin to 21-11. An attack error by the Orange ended it, sealing the 25-15 set and the sweep.
In Other News...
Boston College Needs Michael Crounse Back For A Notre Dame Game That Matters
Boston College will have to line up without its starting center this week, with Bill OBrien confirming Michael Crounse is sidelined by a lower leg injury. The Eagles will turn to freshman DJ Williams in his place, a significant adjustment up front for a team that has leaned on Crounses stability in the middle of the line.
The timing makes the situation more interesting because Crounse is still progressing and could be available for the next game against Notre Dame. That matchup already carries plenty of weight for Boston College, and Crounses potential return would add an extra layer to it, given the family ties that make the meeting even more personal. [Read more 🡒]
Boston College Faces An Early Reality Check Against UMass
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The Eagles know the game will turn on the details, especially on the glass and on the defensive end, where Murray will want to see cleaner possessions and fewer easy chances for a rival that has already shown it can make teams work. With players like Jordan Clayton and Abdullah Ahmed part of the Minutemen's rotation, BC will need a sharper all-around effort in a game that should tell a lot more about where this roster stands than the opener did. [Read more 🡒]
Boston College Faces A Defining Response After That Duke Wakeup Call
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The matchup brings its own set of personnel questions, too. Boston College will be without center Michael Crounse because of injury, while Florida State is also dealing with significant absences on offense, leaving both sides to sort through how much stability they can count on in a game that already carries a little extra pressure after last weekend. [Read more 🡒]