Syracuse volleyball ends 19-game ACC skid, SU Creator Con draws crowds
Syracuse volleyball snapped a 19-game ACC losing streak with a 3-1 win over Virginia, while Syracuse University’s Creator Con brought content creators and students together for panels and networking. Here’s what’s happening in Central New York today.
Orange volleyball breaks through with first ACC win of the season
Syracuse volleyball delivered a long-awaited victory for fans at the Women’s Building on Friday, ending a 19-game Atlantic Coast Conference losing streak with a 3-1 win over Virginia, according to the Daily Orange.
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The Orange, now 6-12 overall and 1-8 in ACC play, recorded 51 kills, an ACC season-high for the team this year. Junior outside hitter Kiernan Stamey led with 15 kills and 18 digs, earning a double-double. Freshman setter Charis Burge contributed 41 assists, her best mark in conference play so far. Seven different Syracuse players recorded kills in the match, showing a balanced offensive effort.
The win was Syracuse’s first in ACC play since October 22, 2025, when the Orange defeated Boston College in five sets. During the 19-match conference skid, Syracuse managed just seven set wins and never forced a fifth set. The Orange started the 2026 ACC schedule 0-8 before breaking through against Virginia, who fell to 6-12 overall and 2-7 in the ACC.
Head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam said after the match that the team is committed to the program and university, emphasizing the players’ hard work. The Orange overcame a slow start, dropping the first set 25-18 before rallying to win the next three sets. Errors by Virginia proved costly, with 11 free points awarded to Syracuse in the second set alone. The Orange clinched the match on a Virginia attack error, sparking a loud celebration from the home crowd.
SU’s Creator Con spotlights content creation as a career path
Syracuse University’s Center for the Creator Economy hosted its second annual ‘CUSE Creator Con this week, drawing students, brands, and influencers to the Whitman School of Management for panels and networking, according to the Daily Orange.
The two-day event kicked off Thursday night and continued Friday with sessions focused on building audiences, social media strategy, and the business side of content creation. The Center for the Creator Economy is a partnership between SU’s Newhouse School of Public Communications and Whitman, aiming to teach students the skills needed to launch careers as influencers or digital entrepreneurs.
Panels featured speakers from brands like e.l.f. Beauty and student creators who shared their experiences growing online followings. Grace Vickner, a junior marketing management major, described building a platform with over 100,000 followers and landing deals with major brands. The event also introduced a new university-wide minor in the creator economy, with two new courses launched for the fall 2026 semester: MMI 211 (Introduction to the Creator Economy) and SOM 277 (Business Tools for Creators).
While the event overlapped with Remembrance Week, SU officials acknowledged the scheduling conflict but emphasized the university’s active campus life. The Creator Con’s message to aspiring creators was clear: embrace personality, learn from failure, and focus on building authentic connections with audiences.
Syracuse basketball faces uphill climb under new coach McNamara
As the 2026-27 college basketball season approaches, Syracuse University men’s basketball enters a new era under head coach Gerry McNamara, who took over after Adrian Autry’s departure in March. According to Syracuse.com, expectations are tempered for McNamara’s first year at the helm.
The Orange were picked 11th out of 18 teams in the ACC preseason media poll. KenPom ranked Syracuse 80th nationally, and betting odds from DraftKings put the Orange at +14000 to win the ACC regular season title. BetMGM lists Syracuse at +25000 to win the national championship.
Despite the long odds, there are reasons for optimism. KenPom projects Syracuse 59th in adjusted defensive efficiency, a notable improvement from last season. Newcomers like Gavin Doty and Aiden Tobiason, along with returning players Kiyan Anthony and Sadiq White, are expected to play key roles. The Orange will have opportunities to build their tournament resume with home games against ACC powerhouses Duke, Louisville, and Virginia at the JMA Wireless Dome.
For more on Orange sports, visit our Syracuse sports page.
Field hockey comeback, women’s soccer struggles, and what’s next
No. 14 Syracuse field hockey came from behind twice to defeat Stanford 3-2 on Friday, improving to 8-5 overall and 3-3 in the ACC, per the Daily Orange. Taylor Bigbie scored the game-winning penalty-corner goal with just over seven minutes remaining. Hattie Madden led the Orange with four shots and a goal, stepping up in the absence of her twin sister Bo Madden, who was sidelined with a lower-body injury.
Meanwhile, Syracuse women’s soccer suffered a 6-1 loss to No. 13 Louisville, conceding six goals in the first half, the most allowed by the program in a half since at least 2000, according to the Daily Orange. The Orange are now 4-9-2 overall and 1-7-0 in ACC play.
For the latest on Syracuse weather as fall foliage peaks and football Saturdays continue, check our CNY weather page. To follow more local school news, visit Syracuse schools.
By The Numbers
- 19: Consecutive ACC losses snapped by Syracuse volleyball in Friday’s win over Virginia (Daily Orange)
- 51: Kills recorded by Syracuse volleyball, their highest in ACC play this season (Daily Orange)
- +25000: Odds for Syracuse men’s basketball to win the national championship, per BetMGM (Syracuse.com)
- 100,000+: Followers amassed by SU student creator Grace Vickner, who spoke at Creator Con (Daily Orange)
- 6: Goals allowed by Syracuse women’s soccer in the first half against Louisville, the most in a half since at least 2000 (Daily Orange)
- 3-2: Final score in No. 14 Syracuse field hockey’s comeback win over Stanford (Daily Orange)
- 8-5: Syracuse field hockey’s overall record after the win over Stanford (Daily Orange)
- 11th: Syracuse men’s basketball’s preseason ACC ranking out of 18 teams (Syracuse.com)
- 80th: Syracuse’s national ranking in KenPom’s preseason projections (Syracuse.com)
- 41: Assists by Syracuse volleyball’s Charis Burge, her best in ACC play (Daily Orange)
- 3: Home games against ACC preseason top four teams for Syracuse men’s basketball (Syracuse.com)
- 1: ACC win for Syracuse volleyball this season after Friday’s victory (Daily Orange)
Where to check for updates
For ongoing coverage of Syracuse sports, campus events, and local business news, visit Syracuse sports, Syracuse business, and CNY education. For weather updates, see CNY weather.
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Sources
- Daily Orange, Syracuse volleyball snaps 19-game ACC skid with 3-1 win over Virginia
- Daily Orange, ‘CUSE Creator Con urges aspiring influencers to relish personality, failure
- Syracuse.com, Syracuse Basketball Futures: Can the Orange return to March Madness?
- Daily Orange, No. 14 Syracuse field hockey comes back twice to beat Stanford 3-2
- Daily Orange, SU lets up 6 1st-half goals, most in 2000s, in 6-1 loss to No. 13 Louisville
