Hardly challenged for weeks, the Skaneateles girls volleyball team saw the action pick up quite a bit, but a long win streak maintained as it now has claimed eight matches in a row.
In the week’s featured match, the Lakers trailed archrival Marcellus, two sets to one, in Thursday night’s home classic, but finished strong to edge the Mustangs in five.
Even after Skaneateles won the first set 25-19, Marcellus, who had just lost to Solvay two days earlier, was not fazed, pulling out a 25-22 second set and, in the third set, going back and forth with the Lakers before emerging with a 26-24 decision.
Instead of getting rattled, the Lakers went out and won the fourth set, 25-19, to even things, and pulled away in the final set to claim the match 25-15.
On a well-balanced Skaneateles front line, Malorie Olin led with 14 kills. Mia Campanile managed 12 kills and four digs, while Natalie Roche had a unique double-double of 11 klils and 12 digs.
Good defense was everywhere, stemming from the likes of Anna Smith (14 digs), Christina Didio (11 digs) and Casey VanSlyke (10 digs), with Kelsey Farrell adding eight digs. Smith also got seven assists and three aces as Grace Delasin recorded 14 assists and Kelsey Kraetz added five kills.
Marcellus had plenty of standouts in this match, too. Suzanna Sylcox had 10 kills and six digs, while Brittney Valentine amassed 19 digs and Jennie Delia had 13 digs. Kayla Bryant earned 19 assists and Kristin Field had six aces to lead both sides.
Homer visited last Monday night, sporting a 5-1 record, and proceeded to win a close opening set over the Lakers 25-23, the first set it had lost since its season-opening Aug. 29 defeat to Westhill.
Angry at this, Skaneateles crushed the Trojans 25-13 in the second set to even up the match. Then it proceeded to withstand all of Homer’s valiant charges in the next two sets, winning each of them by equal 25-21 margins to claim the match.
Delasin’s fine all-around effort included 13 assists, eight digs, three kills and two aces, while Campanile had six assists.
On the Skaneateles front line, Kraetz led the way with 13 kills. Smith provided seven kills, eight digs and five assists, while Olin also managed seven kills. Bailey Herr, with four kills, offered ample support. Homer’s Emma Gutchess impressed with 18 digs and 20 assists, with Emily Cottrell earning nine kills and 10 digs.
After appearing in the Baldwinsville Fall Swing tournament on Saturday, the Lakers would play just once this week, visiting Solvay Tuesday night.
