Twice within a span of 24 hours, the Chittenango boys volleyball team earned wins that were total contrasts, in terms of tension and excitement.
The easy part came first, as the Bears swept past Oneida Tuesday night, taking the first set over the Indians 25-16, and though the next two sets were closer, Chittenango claimed them 25-21 and 25-23.
Makowski finished with 10 kills and six blocks. Mike Messinger finished with six kills and six assists, while Jon Simmons added three blocks. Jordan Kackison managed eight assists as Nick Bailey (five digs) and Zach Bixby (four digs) worked on the defensive side.
A night later, the Bears were on the brink of getting swept by Jamesville-DeWitt before making an inspired comeback to beat the Red Rams in five sets.
Beaten 25-20 in the first set and routed 25-14 in the second set, Chittenango clung to its hopes in a tight third set. Yet once the Bears pulled it out, 27-25, it completely turned the match around, rolling through the fourth set 25-17 and holding on to close out J-D 25-22 in the final set.
Messinger was sensational, with 21 kills and seven assists, while Makowski put together 10 kills and six blocks. Kackison contributed 22 assists as Alex Wafer stepped up for six kills and five blocks. Bixby added seven kills and five digs, with Bailey contributing five digs.
In defeat, J-D’s Walker Masiclat had 29 assists and Mike Alfieris added 20 assists, with Tom Lukow (13 kills), Jesse Evensky (11 kills, 22 digs) and Adam Goss (10 kills) also making big contributions.
