From the moment the Skaneateles girls volleyball team switched from a winter to fall schedule, it had all led to this. The Lakers, by sweeping Section VI champion Olean in last Saturday’s Class B regional final at Jamesville-DeWitt, has earned its first-ever trip to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association championship tournament at Glens Falls Civic Center. All of this really started a year ago, when Skaneateles, still in Class C, lost to eventual state champion Eden in this same regional round. Not wanting a repeat of that experience, the Lakers petitioned for, and was granted, a move up to Class B for 2012. It paid off, as Skaneateles first put together a 14-1 regular season, and then avenged its only defeat to Marcellus when it won the Section III Class B title last Tuesday night. This led to the regional final, held in the same J-D gym where Skaneateles ousted Marcellus. And instead of Eden (who swept Cazenovia this time around), the Lakers drew Olean, a team that, while solid, had nowhere near Eden’s long record of success. Leading throughout the first set, Skaneateles, at 15-10, broke it open with five consecutive points, going on to prevail 25-15. The second set saw the Huskies go in front 11-9, only to see the Lakers reel off four consecutive points to move ahead for good, eventually winning 25-18. Olean tried hard to extend the match in the third set. Down 16-10, the Huskies came all the way back, pulling even at 22-22 and forcing Lakers head coach Doreen Doctor to use a time-out. From there, points were traded until, at 24-24, Skaneateles won the ball back and, with Natalie Roche’s shot smacking the net and falling over to the floor, untouched, the Lakers had completed the sweep, 26-24, and were headed for Glens Falls. Sidney Lawson had another superb all-around showing, putting together 21 assists, 12 digs and six kills. Up front, Julianna Augustine and Jo Anna Dean led the way, each picking up 12 kills and eight digs, with Augustine adding four blocks. Roche, aside from her four kills, amassed 13 digs, just part of a great Laker defensive effort. Mia Campanile had five digs, with Amanda Shoenfelt adding four digs. Anna Smith and Malory Davis each got three digs, with Malorie Olin earning three blocks. Pool play in the state tournament at Glens Falls starts Saturday, at 8:30 a.m. They go in a round-robin format until the top two teams are settled, and they play for the state title Sunday at 10 a.m.