Regardless of the time of the year they are playing, the Skaneateles girls volleyball team is making itself difficult to beat.
And even when challenged in a big way Friday night in a non-league match against West Genesee, the Lakers pulled it out, edging the Wildcats in five sets.
After winning the first set 25-19, the Lakers saw WG pull out the second set 25-23. Furious at that, Skaneateles dominated the third set 25-12 and were close to victory before, again, the Wildcats rallied, winning the fourth set 25-23. In a tense final set, Skaneateles got the points it needed in the end and pulled it out, 25-21.
All through it, Julianna Augustine played at a high level, earning 22 kills, eight digs and five blocks. Joanna Dean helped out with 10 kills and eight digs, while Natale Roche had six kills and nine digs.
On the back line, Colleen Cargile managed 24 assists and four digs. Sidney Lawson got 15 assists, with Casey VanSlyke (three kills) and Malorie Olin (three blocks) also making contributions. In defeat, WG saw Liz LaComb amass 40 assists, with Christina Holzhauer (15 kills) and Emily Shackleton (14 kills) contributing on the front line.
Already 3-0 when the week got underway, the Lakers made quick work of last Tuesday’s match with Syracuse’s Institute of Technology Central, sweeping the host Eagles 25-2, 25-11, 25-5.
Roche set the night’s tone by recording nine aces, while VanSlyke had three aces. Augustine had six kills, fed by both Cargile (six assists) and Lawson (four assists) on the back line. Alana Navaroli added three kills.
Much the same thing happened in Thursday night’s 25-3, 25-12, 25-18 sweep of Bishop Ludden. VanSlyke and Augustine both recorded four aces, while Joanna Dean saw more court time and earned six kills. Lawson gained seven assists.
Having made it past West Genesee, the Lakers would visit Phoenix Tuesday before hosting Fulton Thursday night.
