Leonid Yelin turned to assistant coach Erin Little after Syracuse dropped consecutive sets against Virginia Tech on Oct. 11.

Yelin and Little consulted her detailed diagrams that track ball movement during previous points. They noticed that the Hokies were setting to the pin almost exclusively.

A blocking change was in order.

“We changed from a swing block to more of (an) inside-out block,” Yelin, SU’s head coach, said after the game. “They weren’t attacking us over the middle so we moved blockers to the outside.”

The adjustment revitalized the Orange’s blocking attack. Syracuse registered eight blocks in the fourth game, four more than in the second and third combined. The adjustment helped the Orange take the final two games of the match, winning it in five.

“It was one of those things where if it works, it’s genius” Yelin said.

Little has been quietly contributing to Syracuse’s program in situations like that since she returned to Syracuse (20-7, 11-5 Atlantic Coast) in 2013, after a professional stint in Finland. The assistant coach plans road trips, manages the upcoming recruiting class and tends to the academic needs of her current players.

During practice at 3 p.m., Little sheds her managerial duties and serves more as a player-coach.

Little has to be an active participant in practice. She gets repetitions alongside players in drills and mimics the playing styles of upcoming opponents during scrimmage sessions. Here, Little said, is where her style of coaching best compliments that of Yelin.

“I’m more (personal) with my coaching of players,” Little said, “which allows me to help coach (Yelin) accomplish everything that he wants to get across in his scheme.”

The assistant graduated from SU in 2011, and the minimal generation gap makes her a source of wisdom for the team. Little often starts the season by giving underclassmen a tour of main campus, offering them advice on where to and not to go.

“I try to keep them off Marshall Street because I prefer my players to eat healthy,” joked Little.

The assistant coach admitted that most of her players go against her advice on the subject, opting for the “Chipotle diet” in lieu of healthier options.

If Little’s not diagramming points and scouting out the opponent during games, she’s helping other assistants prep the court before the game or set up the food spread for the team after.

Little eagerly takes on the duties of an assistant coach because her background as a player at SU has tied her passion for the game directly to the program.

“I’ve always wanted to see Syracuse be successful,” said Little. “Our goal as a coaching staff is to build a top 25 program here. That (goal) definitely makes it all worthwhile.”

Published on November 19, 2015 at 8:36 am

Contact Chris: cplucey@syr.edu