A strong regular-season performance netted the Chittenango girls volleyball team the no. 6 seed in the 10-team Section III Class A winter playoff bracket, but no post-season victory.
Put straight into the quarterfinal round, the Bears went north to face no. 3 seed Carthage Saturday afternoon in a match pushed back two days by heavy winter snows.
But the delay did not change Chittenango’s fortunes, as the Comets eliminated them in three sets. After pulling out a close first set 25-19, Carthage proceeded to win the next two sets by margins of 25-15 and 25-17 to end the Bears’ season.
Corrin Stelakis finished with seven kills, but none of her teammates had more than two kills. Allie Cerio managed six assists as Brianna Koegel, Laura Kohler and Ashley Young each got three digs. For Carthage, Cassie Birth had 10 kills, with Claire Sauter (11 assists) and Carly Sullivan (eight assists) sharing back-line duties.
Meanwhile, Chittenango’s boys volleyball team, off back-to-back wins over Central Valley and Canastota, cooled down in last Monday night’s match against Oneida, falling to the Indians in three sets.
The Bears were overwhelmed in a 25-14, 25-17, 25-14 defeat as Tyler Howard managed three kills, five blocks and two assists, while Robbie Howard also got three kills.
Nash Boyd managed five assists and Kyle Brazell got seven digs as Connor Martin and Mike McIntosh got two kills apiece. Oneida saw David Kann manage 14 kills and seven digs as Steve Patricia earned 30 assists.
Moving on, the Bears faced Mount Markham on Friday night and dropped a five-set thriller to the Mustangs. After losing the opening set 25-20, Chittenango won the second set 25-19, and didn’t flinch when Mount Markham claimed the third set in another 25-20 decision.
Two points from defeat, the Bears pulled out the fourth set 26-24, but saw the Mustangs shake that off and, in the decisive fifth set, prevail in yet another 25-20 verdict.
Tyler Howard’s totals included 15 assists, six kills, four blocks and five digs. Boyd added 10 assists as, up front, Brad Markowski and Andrew Clark each produced eight kills. Martin and McIntosh both earned six kills, with McIntosh managing 13 digs and Martin 11 digs, right behind Brazell’s total of 15 digs. Matt Bleaking led Mount Markham with 10 kills and 20 assists.
