The school can change, the value of the trips doesn’t.

When it comes to volleyball at most any level or school, away tournaments are what many teams refer to as “business trips.” They are also great opportunities to provide bonding experiences. That’s exactly what Syracuse is looking for in its first away tournament this weekend.

“It’s always a big deal getting out of school and the comfort of Syracuse,” graduate right side Stacey Smith said

The Orange (2-1) is headed to Illinois on Thursday for the Windy City Invite where it will face DePaul (1-2) on Friday at 6 p.m., Illinois-Chicago (0-3) at 11 a.m. Saturday and Chicago State (1-3) later that day at 8. Syracuse defeated Chicago State and Illinois-Chicago in their last meetings and took the match to four sets before falling to DePaul in 2012.

“The first tournament is (like) everyone is going on a blind date,” SU head coach Leonid Yelin said.

With the Big Orange tournament behind SU, the second tournament gives him a chance to get to know his team a little better.

While on campus, the upperclassmen do not get to see the freshmen outside of practice due to class schedules. That leaves a small amount of time off the court and the road swing will give the players a chance to build chemistry.

Yelin is often finding ways for the team to bond. The Orange will go out to dinner, see a movie or go or shopping as a team.

Though Smith joined the team in July, the team’s other six additions arrived only a month ago. Regardless, Yelin expects all the players to assimilate on and off the court.

“If you’re a freshman, I’m not going to take this into consideration and give you an excuse,” he said. “If you are, and deserve to be a starter, we are going to treat you like everyone else. It’s no excuse.”

Aside from improving cohesion, the returning players know there’s also on-court kinks to work out. After struggling with miscommunication on the court at last weekend’s tournament, Yelin emphasized the team’s first touch — either serve or serve receive — among other issues to correct, junior middle blocker Monika Salkute said.

Junior setter Gosia Wlaszczuk agreed with Yelin’s criticism, saying that if the team focuses on upgrading in those areas, its overall play will improve.

With a handful of tests ahead, the coaches are hoping that off-court chemistry will transfer on-court and the season beyond.

The players collectively agree that further cohesion is needed in order to clean it up on the court and focus on being more disciplined in their play.

“In volleyball, since there is no contact, you can use your ability,” said Yelin.  “But you have to be so disciplined to know how to use it. Playing scrappy – that’s not our game.”

Published on September 5, 2014 at 9:55 am