Led by an electric performance from junior Ryan Wittman, Cornell put a scare into No. 20 Syracuse at the Carrier Dome last night — going up by as much as 16 points in the first half before eventually falling, 88-78.

The men’s basketball team has had its challenges on the road this season, losing contests to Siena, St. John’s and Indiana. The toughest of the season might just come tonight as the Red travels to Syracuse to take on the No. 20 Orange in a game which will be broadcast locally on Time Warner Cable. The Red will enter the central New York showdown unsure if junior point guard Louis Dale will suit up until game time. Dale’s services would help as they face a tough and physical Big East squad led by sophomore point guard Johnny Flynn.

The Red came out of the gate firing in its 2008 home opener, but Syracuse responded quickly and efficiently and ultimately bested Cornell, 25-22, 25-18, 25-20. The first set was the most heavily contested of the match; at times, Cornell (1-6) enjoyed leads of as many as five points, but Syracuse seemed never to fade away. The set started as a quick back-and-forth affair with both teams trading points won on relatively short rallies. Cornell won the first long rally of the game to move ahead, 5-4. Some nice hitting from junior middle blocker Juliana Rogers put the Red ahead, 9-6, before an ace from senior captain Hilary Holland gave the team a four-point lead. Cornell’s largest lead came after senior right side Kathryn Woodbury hit two nice shots in a row to put the Red up, 14-9. The Syracuse defense, however, then found its groove.

There’s no place like home. At least that’s what the volleyball team is hoping, as it dusts itself off after a tough 1-5 start to the preseason and focuses on preparing for its first homestand of 2008, beginning with a match against Syracuse tonight.