The Syracuse volleyball team hopes Sunday’s match against Pittsburgh yields a return visit to the Steel City in a few weeks.

With seven matches remaining in a roller-coaster season, the Orangewomen (16-8, 2-4 Big East) remain cautiously optimistic about their chances to play in November’s Big East tournament in Pittsburgh.

Tonight’s game at 7 in the Women’s Building against West Virginia (8-13, 2-4) kicks off a seven-game stretch that includes matches against the conference’s top four teams. SU plays third-place Pittsburgh (15-6, 5-1) on Sunday.

To qualify for the conference tournament, Syracuse must finish in the top four in the Big East. The Orangewomen are currently tied for ninth with West Virginia.

‘I think we have potential (of making the tournament),’ sophomore Morgan Jones said. ‘If we play well as a team, we have a shot of tying some teams and maybe making it in.’

Syracuse last played in the conference tournament in 1999, when it reached the semifinals before losing to Georgetown. The Orangewomen have reached the tournament three times since Jing Pu took over as head coach in 1995.

Six games into conference play, several Orangewomen are disappointed by their inconsistency.

‘We’ve beaten some teams, like Rutgers, that we weren’t supposed to,’ sophomore Ashley Kimes said. ‘But we have also lost some games, like Villanova, that we should have won.’

Kimes said since SU is young, making the Big East tournament will be difficult. She said the team’s immediate goals are to win games against upper-echelon Big East teams, including two-time defending champion Notre Dame.

‘If we play our game,’ Kimes said, ‘we will be able to take some games from them.’

Freshman Kathryn Dercher, who’s seen considerable time at setter, is disappointed with the Orangewomen’s conference play but expects things to improve.

‘I honestly don’t think we have played up to our potential,’ Dercher said.

She said the tougher competition during the second half of Big East play will propel the Orangewomen to more victories.

Earlier in the season against Rutgers — picked to finish third in the preseason coaches’ poll — Syracuse pulled out a five-game victory. Dercher said that match proved how well Syracuse can play against tough competition. Rutgers had defeated the Orangewomen in five games last season, and Jones said the road victory is the highlight of her season.

‘It was a change in history,’ Jones said, ‘and a very good win for our team.’

Playing their next five games at home, Syracuse — which is three games out of the top four spots — realistically needs to win all five games to make the tourney.

Kimes said the Orangewomen will need to become more consistent to win those matches.

‘We play better when we play good teams,’ freshman Aila Dommestrup said. ‘Hopefully, the competition will keep us pushing until we reach our peak.’

Published on October 24, 2002 at 12:00 pm