Now the Cazenovia girls volleyball team has some company, a year after moving its schedule from the winter to the fall.
Back in 2010, the Lakers only had to worry about Skaneateles (and lost to them) in the fight to see who would advance to the state Class C tournament and played an independent schedule, mostly against Class AA opponents.
Now Cazenovia is part of a full-fledged Onondaga High School League. Many powers, including Marcellus, Fulton, Solvay and Westhill, have joined the Lakers, plus Skaneateles and Bishop Ludden.
One of those newcomers is LaFayette, who has earned a remarkable 19 Section III titles. The Lancers met the Lakers in Friday night’s season opener, with Cazenovia prevailing in four games.
Each of the first two games proved lopsided. Cazenovia claimed the first game 25-14 and also dominated the second game 25-9. Though LaFayette took the third game 25-18, the Lakers closed out the match with a 25-19 win in the fourth game.
Amber Robinson made contributions all over the court. She finished with 12 assists, 13 digs, eight kills, five aces and one block.
Katelyn Puukila had five kills, while Sam Prossner managed four kills, four digs and three aces. Staci Valik managed eight digs, to go with five assists and three aces. Amara Kattrein added three kills.
Kayla McElhannon (eight kills), Kelsey Terrell (13 assists), Halee Beebe (11 assists) and Cassidy Ubeta (seven kills) led LaFayette’s effort.
Cazenovia is home Wednesday to face Bishop Ludden, who just ended a 126-match winless streak by beating Syracuse ITC in its opener. After that, the Lakers play Cicero-North Syracuse before the first of two showdowns with Skaneateles in the other Lakers’ home gym Friday night.
