Freshman Leah Levert looks across the court as the ball is set, watching the hitter’s arm.

Her core tightens as the hitter rises for the spike. She bends her knees for the jump. She extends her arms as she explodes off the ground.

“You just have to get that block. You just have to,” Levert said.

Most of the time, Levert and her teammates have. This season, SU (7-7, 0-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) has out-blocked every opponent it has faced. Head coach Leonid Yelin attributes his team’s blocking success to its height and athleticism, but said that the team must do a better job converting defense into offense if it is to win ACC games.

And Syracuse will look to continue its blocking dominance when it travels to Notre Dame (3-10, 0-2) on Friday and Boston College (6-7, 1-1) on Sunday in the team’s second weekend of ACC play.

“We cannot rely on one skill, doesn’t matter how good it is,” Yelin said. “We will continue trying to be (the) better (blocking) team because ultimately, better blocking brings the defense up too.”

Through 14 games, SU has out-blocked opponents 156.5 to 80.5, led by middle blockers Levert and Lindsay McCabe. Additionally, the two have combined for more total blocks than the Orange’s opponents.

Levert said blocking is an emotional individual experience, but said there are also critical technical aspects to the skill, such as watching the opposing hitter’s arm as she jumps for a hit.

She also credited team blocking and communication as big reasons for SU’s early success on the block.

“Our pin blockers are really good with communicating and encouraging you to get there and encouraging you to go up with them,” Levert said.

The next step for the team is to incorporate blocking the ball into better team defense. Yelin said that the team’s height up front could hurt digging in the back row.

“We are quick enough but we are not experienced enough,” he said. “We have to learn to read different situations better — what the hitter is going to do instead of just reacting.”

Yelin compared mental volleyball to children learning to read a book — the more they practice, the easier it is to read. In volleyball, the more games the players play, the easier it is to anticipate where the ball is going.

A good dig to the setter allows the team to stay in system and score more points and staying in the system is Yelin’s top priority.

“When (you’re an) older player, you do a lot of things by just understanding what you have to do, trying to save your energy,” he said. “When you’re younger, you’re still relying on your physical ability.”

The Orange has abundant youth and athletic ability. The 6-foot-2 Levert has played in 45 of SU’s 53 sets this season despite being a freshman.

“It’s not only about honing your body,” Levert said of blocking, “but also making your body know what you’re supposed to do because that’s what your mind is telling it to do.”

Levert is passionate and strong on the block because of her intensity and her “carnal side,” but she knows she can’t let it take over. This mental struggle is key for McCabe, too.

The senior said that blocking requires a lot of effort, but players need to be more focused in order to channel that effort into good overall defense.

“On an individual basis, everybody knows what they need to be ready to play,” McCabe said. “So just taking that time before starting warm-ups to be ready to compete and play at your highest level.”

Published on October 2, 2014 at 12:20 am