An unbeaten mark was great for the Cazenovia girls volleyball team – but the tests it faced during last weekend’s Baldwinsville Fall Swing Tournament proved even more valuable.
Playing nine sets at that tournament, the Lakers went 5-4, splitting with Liverpool and Victor (Section V), claiming its lone set over Shenendehowa 25-20 and sweeping Saratoga Springs 25-23, 26-24 before a 25-22, 25-10 defeat to Long Island power Connetquot.
Once done at B’ville, the Lakers resumed league play last Tuesday night, at Syracuse’s Institute of Technology Central, where it had little trouble putting together a 25-13, 25-6, 25-17 sweep of the Eagles and got the luxury of giving some of its top players some much-needed rest.
Still, nine different Cazenovia players earned at least one ace, with Sarah Dickinson’s four aces setting the pace. Jenna Britton earned three aces to go with her five assists as she shared back-line duties with Lauren Lyons (six assists) and Maleigha Ellithorpe (four assists). Marin Rogers, Paige Nardella and Morgan Hodinger each got three kills.
Just 24 hours later, the Lakers visited Solvay, expecting a much tougher match. And it got one, challenged in each of the three sets, but still able to win them for yet another sweep, Cazenovia stopping the Bearcats 25-21, 25-20, 25-19.
Aside from her 19 assists, Britton also had five digs to lead the Lakers. Lyons and Lauren Burbidge each got four digs, as did Hodinger, who earned a team-best six kills. Carges added four kills and three blocks. Solvay, in defeat, saw Jackie Allen earn 12 kills and 12 digs, Taylor Preble also get 12 digs and Mackenzie McCarthy earn 21 assists.
That improved the Lakers to 11-0 going into its toughest road match of the season Tuesday night at Westhill, whom it swept at Buckley Gym on Sept. 17. Cazenovia follows that up with a Thursday-night visit to Marcellus.
