While the Skaneateles girls volleyball team has undergone far more challenges in 2013 than in the previous two seasons, it still is one of the favorites to emerge with a Section III Class B title.

A sign of the Lakers’ resolve came in last Tuesday’s match against visiting LaFayette, where the Lakers came from behind and pulled out a tough five-set victory over the Lancers.

Even though Skaneateles won the opening set 25-20, it had to watch LaFayette win 25-19 in the second set and then prevail 25-22 in a close third set.

Trailing 2-1, the Lakers never panicked, instead comfortably winning the fourth set 25-18, and then earning all of the key points in the final set for a 25-20 victory to claim the match.

Mia Campanile earned a season-best 37 assists, adding eight digs. Up front, Malorie Olin led with 16 kills and four aces, while Bailey Herr picked up a career-best 11 kills. Natalie Roche got 10 kills and nine digs.

Casey VanSlyke produced 16 digs, adding two aces and two kills. Christina Didio had 14 digs as Grace Delasin added seven kills, Delasin joining Kelsey Farrell and Kelsey Kraetz with three kills apiece.

On LaFayette’s side, Halee Beebe earned 40 assists, 11 digs and six kills, her passes often going to Skye Schumacher, who had 16 kills to go with 24 digs. Maggie Coulter produced 48 digs for the Lancers as Sophia Powless (nine kills) and Kaitlyn Agedal (seven kills, 16 digs) helped out.

Two nights later, at Fulton, the Lakers had a far easier time of it. Even though all three sets were close, Skaneateles won them, and swept the Red Raiders 25-21, 25-19, 25-22.

With Delasin (10 assists) and Campanile (nine assists) splitting back-line duties, Olin went to the forefront with eight kills and six digs. Roche and Kraetz each had four kills, with Roche producing a team-best 13 digs. VanSlyke had nine digs as Farrell and Herr each gained seven digs.

Having improved its mark to 12-2, the Lakers get a pair of tough matches in the last week of the regular season, hosting Jamesville-DeWitt on Tuesday and going to Phoenix on Thursday night.