CENTRAL NEW YORK – Undefeated and with just one set surrendered to a match opponent in September, the Jamesville-DeWitt boys volleyball team set out to continue its domination, only to discover some more resistance from familiar opponents.
For example, there was last Wednesday’s match against Oswego, where the Red Rams were pushed hard throughout a four-set victory over the Buccaneers.
Had J-D not taken the opening set in a tense 25-23 battle, things might have got quite tense, for though the Rams rolled through the second set 25-15, everything from that point was a challenge.
Instead of a sweep in the third, it was Oswego winning 25-23 and then hanging around in the fourth set, too, before J-D was able to prevail 25-20 and close out the Bucs.
Tim Cooper had a season-best 50 assists, passing it around as Aaron Ko set his own season mark with 16 kills, adding nine digs. Luke McQuaid had 13 kills and nine digs, with Avery Kielbasinski adding 10 kills, four blocks and seven digs. Phoenix McBride got nine kills and three blocks, Cam Moynihan earning six kills.
J-D then put away Central Square Friday night in a 25-12, 25-16, 25-16 sweep. McQuaid’s 14 kills set the tone as Ko got five kills and McBride four kills. Cooper finished with 30 assists, just eight away from reaching the 1,000 mark.
Fayetteville-Manlius concluded last month with a run to the finals at the Spencerport Tournament, and then returned home to earn a sweep of last Monday’s match with East Syracuse Minoa.
A 25-11 romp in the first set was followed by a far closer second set that the Hornets took 25-20. The Spartans nearly extended the match in the third, only to take a 27-25 defeat.
Connor Sugar earned 31 assists, spreading it around to an F-M front line led again by Chris Cleary, who had 12 kills to go with a team-best six digs. Charles Addonizio had eight kills, with Mike McAndrew adding six kills and Charlie Schroder adding five kills.
In defeat, ESM saw Tyler Quarry lead with eight kills, with Ryan Sullivan getting seven kills and Austin Betts five kills. Donovan Randall had 21 assists and Tommy Clonan managed six digs.
When F-M played again Wednesday night against Syracuse City, it also had to sweat through a 25-23 opening set and win the second 25-16, also lost the third 25-22 but was able to take control in the fourth 25-16 and end it.
With his 50 assists, Sugar exactly equaled what Cooper did for J-D against Oswego. Addonizio stepped up, setting a season mark with 18 kills ahead of Cleary’s 15 kills as McAndrew and Schroder had six kills apiece. Guy Juran got four kills and four blocks.
ESM was back in action Thursday night, against Cicero-North Syracuse, and did nearly everything right except get the important points late in a four-set defeat to the Northstars.
Having won a close opening set 25-23, the Spartans lost the second 25-21. Then, in both the third and fourth set, ESM had great opportunities to put real stress on C-NS, yet could not take advantage of them.
By margins of 25-23 and 26-24, the Northstars were able to pull it out, helped by 22 kills from Carter King and 39 assists from Jack Waite. Randall got 35 assists as Quarry and Betts had nine kills apiece and McGuigan got eight kills, Sullivan adding five kills. Domres had seven digs to go with four kills and Clonan earned 11 digs.
