In order to keep itself undefeated, the Chittenango boys volleyball team had to remain sharp against every challenge thrown at them.
Back on Jan. 14, the Bears went to Sauquoit Valley, where it rolled through the first two sets by margins of 25-15 and 25-14 before having a more difficult time in the third set, but still pulling it out 25-22 to complete the sweep of the Indians.
Tim Ryder not only earned 26 assists, he served up seven aces and got four digs. Grant Czarnecki had 10 kills, six aces and six digs, while Ryan Pitt gained eight kills. Michael Culkin gained six kills and six digs as Griffin Smith had three kills. Tom Rooney (nine digs), Cooper Young (five digs) and Jacob Graham (three digs) also helped on the defensive side.
Five days later, the Bears earned another sweep, this one over Westmoreland. While none of the three sets proved that easy, Chittenango still got through the opener 25-19 and the second set 25-17 before a close 25-22 third set finished it out.
Turning toward its regular-season homestretch, the Chittenango girls volleyball team prevailed over Christian Brothers Academy on Jan. 13 in a three-set sweep, the Bears dominating the second set 25-8 after a 25-15 opening set and hanging on, 25-22, for a sweep of the Brothers.
Mya Streif gained six aces, while Shelby Maring earned five aces as she gained 11 assists, splitting back-line duties with Tiffany Scofield, who picked up 10 assists. Up front, Tyla Cutrie led the way, earning 11 kills as Alyssa Bates added five kills and Megan Mayer contributed three aces. Streiff and Mayer had three digs apiece.
Then, in last Wednesday night’s match against Fabius-Pompey, Chittenango rolled again, facing very little stress in a 25-11, 25-15, 25-17 sweep of the Falcons.
Cutrie put away 17 kills this time around, with Bates and Shannon Koegel each getting five kills and Bates tacking on eight digs. Scofield also got five kills while contributing 12 assists on a back line where Maring stood out with 20 assists. Streiff served up four aces and got seven digs as Mayer added three kills and three digs.
A day later, it was the Bears putting away Port Byron in straight sets 25-17, 25-16, 25-14 to improve its overall record to 11-1.
The steady Chittenango effort included Cutrie getting 13 kills and Bates eight kills to go with 10 digs. Maring and Scofield got 11 assists apiece, with Maring earning five digs. Streiff beat them all with 20 digs as Mayer got nine digs, plus two aces and two kills.
