Breaking out of an easy string of matches, the Cazenovia girls volleyball team went up against two of the Onondaga High School League’s better sides, splitting with them.
This included Fulton, who hosted the Lakers Monday night and erased a big early lead from the visitors to prevail in five sets.
When Cazenovia won a close opening set 26-24, it carried over into the second set, where the Lakers won big 25-14.
Fulton, however, turned it around by prevailing 25-18 in the third set. The Lakers nearly ended it in the fourth set, but the Red Raiders pulled it out, 25-23, and went on to claim the final set 25-21.
Through it all, Amber Robinson amassed 27 assists, 15 digs and nine kills to pace Cazenovia’s efforts, and Dominique Lyons finished with 19 digs.
Madison Gabor, who had 18 digs, contributed six kills, with Samantha Prossner managing 11 digs and four kills. Amara Kattrein had nine digs, five kills and four assists, with Willa Mihayli-Koch adding four kills and Kaitlyn Puukila contributing three kills.
On Fulton’s side, Monica Falanga had 29 assists, with Kate Rothrock adding 14 assists. Up front, Sara Campolieta had 21 kills and 14 digs, with Brittney Mitsiell (11 kills, five digs, four blocks) and Emily Lamb (10 kills, three blocks) offering help.
Two nights later, Cazenovia went to Homer. Again, it went to five sets and again the Lakers squandered early chances to put it away, but this time it would prevail.
After winning the opening set 25-18, Cazenovia lost a tight second set 26-24, only to handle Homer 25-14 in a lopsided third set. The Trojans did pull out the fourth set 25-22, but here the Lakers kept its poise and made the final push, winning the fifth set 25-17.
In addition to her 27 assists, Robinson earned seven kills and 10 digs. Lyons backed up her 23 digs with four aces and two kills.
Prossner put together 10 assists, 10 digs and five kills. Gabor managed a team-best nine kills, plus 17 digs and two aces. Kattrein matched Robinson’s total of seven kills and added three assists.
All of this sets up a week full of big matches – encounters with Marcellus on Wednesday and Westhill on Thursday night, followed up by the OHSL Tournament on Saturday at Phoenix.
