Syracuse (21-13, 12-8 Atlantic Coast) defeated Albany (11-15, 11-1 American East), 3-1, in the opening round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship on Thursday afternoon at Cotterell Court at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York. After dropping its first set, 21-25, the Orange won three straight, 25-22, 25-20, and 25-21.

Santita Ebangwese (13 kills), Ella Saada (11 kills) and Kendra Lukacs (10 kills) paced SU’s offense, with Jalissa Trotter (41 assists) providing the service. Saada (24 digs) manned the back row in a defensive effort that saw four different SU players contribute at least 12 digs. The team also posted a season-high 10 service aces.

Albany gained a 14-8 advantage in the opening set before the Orange scored seven straight. The Great Danes recovered, scoring seven of the game’s next nine points off three attack errors and a service error by Syracuse. Two kills from Tatiana Tiangco and one from Danielle Tedesco helped Albany finish the set, 25-21.

In the second set, both teams traded points until the score was knotted at 12. The Orange then scored eight of the game’s next 12 points, taking a 20-16 lead, and forcing Albany head coach MJ Engstrom to call a timeout. Despite a late push from the Great Danes, Syracuse went on to take the set, 25-22. SU’s three-headed attack of Lukacs, Saada, and Ebangwese combined for 15 kills in the second period.

The Orange opened the third set with a 10-3 run, and continued building on its lead before two Ebangwese service aces resulted in an Albany timeout. Syracuse continued its dominant play, but wasn’t able to finish the set without a close scare. Down 22-10, the Great Danes scored 10 of the game’s next 12 points before Ebangwese finished off the set for SU.

Syracuse got out to a hot start in the fourth set, in part to four Albany attack errors. An 8-2 run by the Great Danes reduced the deficit to one, but SU prevailed, winning the set, 25-21. Albany committed three attack errors in the game’s final five points.

The Orange will play the winner of Colgate and Towson tomorrow night at 7 p.m.