With several new faces taking over in key roles, the Skaneateles girls volleyball team knew that the 2013 season would be a challenge, especially if wanted to replicate its run to last November’s state Class B final at Glens Falls Civic Center.
That challenge was illustrated in Thursday night’s season opener, when the Lakers went to Westhill and saw two different leads slip away in a tense five-set defeat to the Warriors.
The first set went beyond the wire, but Skaneateles pulled it out 26-24. Even after Westhill won a 25-20 decision in the second set, the Lakers rebounded and, in the third set, claimed a tough 25-22 win to go up 2-1 in sets.
Showing its own brand of toughness, Westhill won the fourth set by the same 25-20 margin as the second set, and though Skaneateles had its chances in the final set, the Warriors went in front late and held on to win the match 25-21.
Working on the back line, Anna Smith had 10 assists and five digs, while Mia Campanile had eight assists and three digs. Casey VanSlyke, with nine digs, led the Lakers’ defensive effort.
Natalie Roche backed up her seven kills with 12 digs and two aces, with Malorie Olin recording a team-best eight kills, plus two aces and six digs. Kelsey Farrell put together six blocks, five kills and five digs, with Kelsey Kraetz managing six blocks of her own.
For Westhill, Annaleigh Gedney anchored the back line with 40 assists, adding six digs, three aces, three kills and two blocks, while Maggie Liberati provided excellent defense with her 17 digs.
Delaney Martin managed a team-best 21 digs and added 10 kills as part of a well-balanced Warriors front line. Lina Guindy had 13 kills and 10 digs, while Bella Sterly managed 13 kills and three blocks. Melissa Newcomb managed six kills, six digs and three aces.
