All through this season, the local balance of power in girls volleyball has shifted, away from Marcellus and toward newer outposts like Solvay and Westhill, and last week’s action did little to change that dynamic.
Off a huge win over defending Class B champion Skaneateles on Oct. 3, the Bearcats had little trouble last Tuesday in a 25-8, 25-15, 25-20 sweep of Bishop Grimes, which proved a welcome respite after the close wins over Marcellus and Skaneateles.
Rebecca Langdon dished out 13 assists, with Heather Thompson picking up six kills. Michaela Marotti (six digs) and Gina Frost (five digs) played strong defense as Lauren Bandera earned five aces and three kills. Jackie Gardner also had three aces.
Thursday’s match with LaFayette proved more difficult. After easily winning the first two sets 25-13 and 25-17, the Bearcats lost the third set 25-15, but shook that off and finished the Lancers 25-17 in the fourth set.
Jackie Allen, with 11 kills and 12 digs, and Thompson, with nine kills, led Solvay’s front line. Monica Watkins added six kills as Bandera mixed together 21 blocks, six kills and five aces. Gardner had 14 assists and 14 digs, with Juila Tomoroska also getting 14 digs.
Westhill was back on the court Thursday night, easily dismissing Fowler 25-14, 25-10, 25-13. Annaleigh Gedney had eight aces to go with her 21 assists as Melissa Newcomb and Bella Sterly each got six kills. Delaney Martin added five kills and three aces as Xiomara Rodriguez added three aces. Lina Guindy (six digs, two kills, two assists) and Maggie Liberati (five digs) played strong defense.
Another sign of Marcellus’ struggles came in last Tuesday night’s four-set defeat to that same LaFayette team that would lose to Solvay on Thursday. The Mustangs, beaten badly in the first set 25-13, pulled out a 26-24 seconds set, but the Lancers reclaimed control from there, winning the next two sets 25-16 and 25-21 to take the match.
Zoe Higgins had 11 kills, but no other Mustang had more than four kills, put up by Suzanna Sylcox and Eimile O’Brien. Kayla Bryant had 25 assists, matching Anna Smith and Jennie Delia on that mark, while Brittney Valentine matched Sylcox’s team-high seven digs and Delia got six digs. For LaFayette, Skye Schumacher (10 kills, four aces, 12 digs) and Halee Beebe (26 assists) led the way.
Marcellus did win on Thursday, sweeping Fulton 25-16, 25-19, 25-16. Bryant picked up 21 assists, her passes going to a balanced front line. Higgins had 10 kills, with Sylcox stepping up for nine kills. Smith added six kills and O’Brien five kills as Valentine earned nine digs.
Meanwhile, in Class AA West Genesee, with its 11-2 record, took its shot at unbeaten Baldwinsville and, like so many others, swung and missed as it lost to the visiting Bees 25-7, 25-6, 25-21.
The lopsided nature of the first two sets made the belated third-set effort more striking in contrast. Hannah Bakowski finished with eight assists, while Brianna Richardson and Courtney Shoults each had four kills. Shoults added eight digs and Katie McIntyre had six digs, with Richardson contributing five digs.
WG would take another defeat on Thursday, to Liverpool. But this one lasted five sets as the Wildcats lost the first two sets 25-20 and 25-21, and though it just avoided the sweep to take the next two sets 25-23 and 25-20, it had nothing left for the final set, which the Warriors won 25-15.
Kara Sweeney amassed 36 assists, the same as Liverpool’s Meg Stonebarger, and added 13 digs. Shoults had 28 digs to go with nine kills as Jessie Allen put together 12 kills, 20 digs and five blocks. Richardson had 12 kills and six digs, with Copeland getting 10 digs and nine kills. McIntyre (17 digs) and Kayla Case (10 digs) also helped on the defensive end.
Jordan-Elbridge and Bishop Ludden squared off last Monday night, and it was the Eagles prevailing in straight sets over the Gaelic Knights 25-15, 25-23, 25-11.
Only the second set proved close, as Kali Kimak led the Eagles with five aces and seven kills. Jessie Karagosian managed four aces and four assists, with Ashley Hamlin adding three aces. Kim Oliver, Haley Schwarting, Brittany Hares and Rachel Gleason each had two aces as Mackenzie Mannion gained seven digs and three kills.
Ludden’s Jill Kompf put up 10 assists, while Sarah Rose Costello had five aces. Allison Barletta saved points with her 13 digs as Abby Johnson and Hailey Bevard earned four kills apiece.
Two nights later, the Gaelic Knights fell to Cazenovia 25-6, 25-9, 25-16, watching as Lakers head coach Brian Ellithorpe picked up his 300th career victory (he also coaches at Morrisville-Eaton during the winter season). Cassie Griglock had three aces, with Bevard adding five digs.
