Perhaps the Cicero-North Syracuse girls volleyball team wanted to make head coach Jon DeHay’s 100th career victory as memorable as possible.
Not only was DeHay’s milestone attained in a five-set match, it happened Tuesday night against main rival Liverpool, and on the Northstars’ home court, and required the hosts to make two different comebacks.
Liverpool, intending to spoil the proceedings, won a close opening set 25-20, but C-NS quickly recovered and claimed the second set 25-21.
It looked like the Warriors regained control when it won the third set 25-18 and pushed the fourth set to the wire. But two points from defeat, the Northstars pulled out that set, 26-24, and then withstood Liverpool’s efforts to claim the final set in another 25-21 decision.
The long battle included Amy Van Hoven posting 13 kills and three blocks to lead C-NS’s front line. Cara Gannett had 10 kills and four blocks, while Elizabeth Miles gained seven kills and five blocks. On the back line, Kelsey Hess amassed 25 assists, getting help from Jess Dorran (eight assists) as Tiffany Ryan picked up 10 digs.
As for Liverpool, Meg Stonebarger managed 24 assists, feeding a front line where Alexis Hasper led with 10 kills and Katie Rowell added nine kills. Emily Flohr picked up six kills and five digs as Sam Wolf, like Stonebarger, picked up five kills.
A night earlier, C-NS met Liverpool in boys volleyball, and this one was more lopsided as the Northstars needed just three sets to finish in front.
C-NS had its toughest test in the opening set. But once C-NS won 25-20, it continued to pull away from the Warriors, claiming the second set 25-17 and the third set 25-13.
Justin Collins led the way, producing 24 assists. That led to a C-NS front line where Andrew Bocyck managed seven kills and Josh Rodriguez added five kills, plus three assists. Robert Palucci picked up seven aces as Brian Drake got two aces, two kills, two assists and two blocks. Morgan Austen earned three kills.
On Liverpool’s side, Dalton Horton put together seven blocks, seven assists and five digs. Joe Kenney added four kills as Brendan Corp helped on defense, earning eight digs.
