It was time for Baldiwnsville’s boys volleyball team to begin its CNY Counties League schedule, and it did so in impressive style, going to Central Square and claiming a 25-20, 25-18, 25-22 sweep over the Red Hawks in its season opener early this week.
Though the first and third sets were closer, the Bees still got the points that mattered, with Pat Dubiel as the focal point as he notched 15 assists to a variety of players at the net.
Charles McAllister and Mike Bernet both finished with three kills. Tyler Webber served up five aces, with Jonathan Bunn managing four aces to go with two kills. Dubiel, Corey Toscano and Delsean Griffith had two kills apiece.
But the Bees lost a five-set classic to Oswego on Thursday night, one that could prove a harbinger of future showdowns, including one for the sectional title.
The two sides scored the exact same number of points in the first four sets. B’ville won the first set 25-23, but Oswego won the second set by that same margin and then claimed the third set 25-22, only to have the Bees take the fourth set in another 25-22 decision.
Only in the final set did the Bucs get any sort of margin, winning it 25-20 as Josh Carney put together 48 assists, six blocks, three kills and two aces, while Zach Gillard amassed 30 kills, seven blocks and four digs. Pat Dillon had nine kills and four aces.
As for the Bees, Dubiel earned 30 assists, plus three kills, three aces and two digs. Dalton Mahan had 11 kills as part of a balanced front line where Bernet had eight kills, with McAllister and Toscano getting six kills apiece. Weber played strong defense, finishing with 13 digs, while Griffith had three kills and two aces.
Back from tournament action at Burnt Hills, the Baldwinsville girls volleyball team continued to have little difficult with local CNY Counties League foes.
The Bees got a stringent enough challenge in last Monday’s match at Fayetteville-Manlius, but still did enough to sail past the Hornets 25-18, 25-15, 25-20.
Meghann Smith set a new season mark with 25 assists, spreading them around to several front-line players, especially Madison Whitney, who led B’ville with nine kills.
Four other B’ville players – Rachel Aiello, Amanda May, Melissa Voyer and Riley Carlucci – each picked up five kills, with Carlucci adding three blocks and May two blocks. Caryn Salce and Meghan Andre each gained three digs.
B’ville got more of a challenge from visiting West Genesee on Wednesday night, close in one set and pushed beyond the limit in another – but still pulling off yet another sweep, toppling the Wildcats 25-21, 25-12, 27-25.
Quietly, the front line continued to improve, as Whitney again produced nine kills, plus two aces and four digs. Shayna Webber gained eight kills, while Voyer got seven kills and four blocks. Aiello had six kills, plus three digs. Smith fed all of them with her 28 assists as Andre earned three aces and three digs.
