Saturday’s match against Marquette was one Syracuse wanted. It was a win that would have improved its Big East record and its position in the conference standings. It would have been a win on Homecoming, with alumni filling the stands. And a win that would further solidify its position as a contender.

But no matter how much it wanted it, the Orange wasn’t able to come through.

‘It concerns me that we’re 3-3 now in the Big East, with the toughest teams still to come,’ Orange assistant coach Carol LaMarche said. ‘We’ve still got a long road ahead of us. We’re not out of it by any means, but it’s not going to be easy.’

Syracuse’s 0-3 loss to Marquette broke the momentum the Orange had going into the match. With a non-conference game at Cornell Tuesday, the Orange will get an opportunity to get back on track against what should be an easier opponent.

From early on, the Golden Eagles kept the Orange out of the match, almost single-handedly trying to put a stop to SU’s surge up the standings. When it was over, Syracuse was put back into a position of having to fight harder to remain in the top eight in the Big East. And with those top of the conference teams still looming, SU could be in for a tough road.

That’s why tonight’s match against the Big Red wasn’t lost on the Orange. It’ll be an opportunity to fix whatever went wrong against Marquette and figure out which lineups work best. If all goes well, that road ahead could get a little smoother.

‘We’re just going to come out strong in the next game, pick up our record,’ defensive specialist Sarah Hayes said. ‘I think it’ll bring us back up, get ready for our next (Big East) game. It’ll be more of, like, a practice game.’

SU sought answers to Marquette’s dominating offense. That included removing outside hitter Hayley Todd from the lineup in the third set and sending in freshman Samantha Clarey, who hadn’t played since the Orange’s Sept. 17 match against Louisiana-Monroe.

Nothing stopped the Golden Eagles.

‘We were just trying to figure out something that would work,’ LaMarche said. ‘Sam Clarey got in there and got a strong hit. Our subs did their job today, just unfortunately, as a team, we couldn’t get it done.’

Despite the loss, Syracuse maintained that the mentality of the team hadn’t been shaken up. There wasn’t any new worry that the loss would send the Orange spiraling to the bottom of the Big East. There’s still confidence left, if only because there has to be if SU wants to have any chance at beating its conference foes down the line.

‘It doesn’t change how we’re going to prepare, it doesn’t change how we feel,’ Todd said. ‘We know we’re a better team, and we’re going to do great for the rest of the Big East.’

But before it gets back to the Big East, the Orange will get that opportunity to briefly return to an easier part of its schedule in its match against Cornell. Sure, the Orange is remaining positive, but trying to find a way to beat even better conference opponents is going to be crucial.

Marquette was just the first of many quality Big East teams Syracuse will play until the end of its season. And those quality teams are going to be just as strong, just as powerful. That’s why SU will look to get its lineups straightened out and find the best way to get back among the conference elite.

‘We can’t look past Cornell at all,’ LaMarche said. ‘But you have to use your out-of-conference games to try different stuff. That’s what we’re going to do against Cornell and, hopefully, pull off a win while we do it.’

cjiseman@syr.edu

Published on October 18, 2010 at 12:00 pm

Contact Chris: cjiseman@syr.edu | @chris_iseman