Sydlik Reaches 3,000 Assist Mark in 3-1 TUVB Loss

Friday, November 6

New Orleans, La.

7:00 p.m.

Temple University

17-8, 8-5American

Tulane

9-16, 3-10American

Temple University

Tulane

Senior Sandra Sydlik notched her 3,000th career assist

Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

Sydlik Reaches 3,000 Assist Mark in 3-1 TUVB Loss

11.6.15 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Senior Sandra Sydlik notched her 3,000th-career assist, but the Temple volleyball team dropped a tight 3-1 match on the road to Tulane on Friday night. The Green Wave took the match, 25-23, 17-25, 25-22, 25-21, improving to 9-16 overall, 3-10 in conference play. The Owls dip to 17-8 overall, 8-5 in The American.

Sydlik finished the night with a double-double, racking up 45 assists, while also adding 19 digs. She became just the sixth player in Temple volleyball history to reach the 3,000 assist mark.

Offensively, sophomore Izzy Rapacz tallied 12 kills, while junior Tyler Davis added 11 and classmate Kirsten Overton picked up 10. Sophomore Irem Asci rounded out the attack with nine kills. Senior Alyssa Drachslin recorded a match-best 22 digs to lead the Owls' defense, while senior Kayla Yingling added 12 in the loss. Rapacz and sophomore Janine Simmons led Temple at the net, each recording three blocks.

Head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam pointed to Tulane's solid blocking and scrappy defense as the difference-makers in the match. "Tulane executed very well on the block," he noted. "Their defense also did a great job getting their offense second and third chances tonight."

Temple's offense clicked early in set one, as Sydlik distributed the offense equally through the pin hitters and the middle, giving the Owls an 8-2 lead. Leading 14-8, Temple allowed Tulane to battle back to within one, as the Green Wave put together a 6-1 surge to make it 15-14. Following a Temple timeout, Tulane continued its run, taking an 18-16 lead on three-straight points. The Green Wave pushed their advantage to 22-19 before Temple cut it to 23-22 with a 3-1 run. The Owls spoiled match point for Tulane at 24-22, but the Green Wave got the next point, to take set one, 25-23.

The second set again started with Temple leading 8-2. This time the Owls' advantage grew to 11-2, before Tulane battled back, cutting the lead to 14-9 with a 7-3 run. Temple maintained around a five-point edge, extending the score to 22-16 as Sydlik notched number 3,000 on an Overton kill. The Owls then closed it out with a 25-17 win, tying the match at 1-1 heading into the break.

Set three was tied three times before Tulane scored four-straight to make it 12-7. A kill from Overton then allowed the Owls to get out of the rotation, while sparking a 7-2 run to tie the set at 14-14. Tulane surged ahead, leading 19-16 before the Owls battled back to tie it at 20-20 and again at 22-22. Tulane was able to close it out, however, scoring the final three points of the stanza to take it, 25-22.

Tulane jumped out to an early lead in set four, going up 12-6. Temple battled back with four-straight points to cut it to 12-10, but Tulane answered with a 4-0 surge to make it 16-10, forcing a Temple timeout. The Owls were able to whittle the deficit to three at 22-19, but Tulane scored two more to force another Temple timeout. Out of the break, the Owls spoiled match point twice, before Tulane grabbed the set, 25-21, to take the match, 3-1.

"Overall, we just gave up too many runs," added Ganesharatnam. "We did some things well tonight, at times, we executed at a really high level. But when Tulane started going on runs, we just couldn't execute our game plan."

Up next for Temple, the Owls will stay on the road, traveling to Houston for a Sunday match-up. Temple will look to avenge a 3-2 loss to Houston in the last meeting between the teams.

"Houston is a very good blocking team," noted Ganesharatnam. "They are very physical and we know that. We need to be consistent on serve-receive, finish plays, and we will give ourselves a chance to win."