By now, the Cazenovia girls volleyball team had surpassed everyone else in the OHSL Liberty division — except the foe with which it shares a nickname.
With a chance to catch up at first-place Skaneateles last Thursday night, the visiting Lakers saw two late-game surges by the host Lakers prove to be crucial in a four-game defeat.
When the two sides had first met Dec. 9 at Buckley Gym, Skaneateles needed five games to prevail, a tight contest that gave Cazenovia hope that, once they met again, it would return the favor.
That feeling only intensified when the eastern Lakers roared out to a 7-1 lead in the opening game, then worked it to 12-6, only to see the western Lakers answer.
Skaneateles caught up at 17-17, then exchanged points. With the score 20-19, the western Lakers then reeled off five straight points to take that opener, 25-19.
They would need the cushion, since Cazenovia battled through a close second game that featured 13 different ties to get the last two points and prevail, 25-23, when Julie Gregg sneaked an ace into the corner of the court at game point.
This close exchanged continued well into the third game, too, before Skaneateles made its second crucial surge. Ahead by just one, 18-17, the western Lakers then strung together seven consecutive points to win the game 25-17 and take a 2-1 lead.
With the score tied 17-17 in the fourth game, Skaneateles pushed ahead for good with four straight points, going on to clinch the match 25-20.
In defeat, Leah McAleer (seven kills, four aces, two blocks) and Lindsey Nourse (six kills, five aces) led Cazenovia’s front line. Alissa Easterly, in addition to her 15 assists, posted six kills, while Megan Robinson got seven assists. Gregg added four kills and three aces.
Skaneateles, for its part, had Merle pick up 16 kills and Katherine Hill gain 15 kills, while Emily Wood (eight kills) and Alexa Campanile (seven kills) offered support and Chloe Warner fed them all with 35 assists.
The loss to Skaneateles pushed Cazenovia’s record to 9-2 (7-2 league) in advance of crucial home matches next week against Marcellus and Homer, plus a Jan. 24 tournament at Mount Markham.
