Cicero-North Syracuse’s boys volleyball team still had to make it through one more test before getting a chance to compete for the state Division I championship on its home court.
And the Northstars nailed the test – spiked it away, to put it in volleyball terms.
CNS met Section IV champion Horseheads in Saturday night’s regional finals at Elmira College. With its usual combination of power and precision, the Northstars swept the Blue Raiders in three games and earned its ticket back home.
Much like the Section III final against Central Square, CNS wasted little time establishing control. It won the first game by a comfortable 25-17 margin, then blitzed through the second game 25-12 as Horseheads simply could not keep up. Though the Blue Raiders put up a bigger fight in the third game, the Northstars still won, 25-18, to complete the sweep.
Tyler A. Smith assumed a starring role on the front line, earning 14 kills, while Ethan Irish contributed six kills and four aces. Billy Werksman earned five kills and DeShaun Smith stepped up to earn four kills. Jim Coleman came up with 29 assists and three aces, feeding the potent front line as Colin Crooks got two kills and two aces, with Adam Collins contributing two digs.
CNS will play in a four-team Division I round-robin with Bethlehem (Section II), Rochester McQuaid (Section V) and Half Hollow Hills West (Section XI). They will compete in two-game matches against each other, starting Saturday at 10 a.m., and continuing until two teams are left for the final at 4 p.m. This follows the Division II championship between Victor and Eastport/South Manor.
