Once at 0-3, the East Syracuse Minoa girls volleyball team has completely turned things around, winning nine consecutive matches during a streak that stretches all the way back to early December.
That ninth straight victory came last Monday night, against visiting Weedsport. After winning the first set 25-17, the Spartans lost a tight second set 26-24, but fought its way to 25-19 and 25-21 decisions in the next two sets to come out on top again.
Isabella Talarico finished with 22 assists, adding a pair of aces. Kathryn Mangovski had 10 kills, while Gillianne McCarthy stepped up with five kills and two blocks. Nicole Hilleges had three aces as Julianna Cacace, Dana Mascari and Sophia Zacharek had two aces apiece. Isabella Calcaginio and Brooke Willey both produced three kills.
After Wednesday’s match with Port Byron was snowed out (as was a match between Manlius-Pebble Hill and Altmar-Parish-Williamstown), ESM would find itself off until this week’s showdown with Christian Brothers Academy, who ironically had faced Port Byron on that same night ESM had defeated Whitesboro.
The Brothers didn’t drop a set against the Panthers, sweeping it 25-15, 25-22, 25-20 as it got every key point late in the last two sets to keep Port Byron from getting back into contention.
Liz Adams was an all-around star for CBA, putting together 12 assists, five kills, three aces and four digs. Sydney Congel and Alexandra Fess had four kills apiece, while Amanda Fess had three kills. Adrianna Fess joined Alexandra with eight digs apiece as Morgan Riley got seven digs. Catherine Burns contributed five digs.
CBA was at it again Thursday night, at Cato-Meridian, where it again won, this time getting run over, 25-12, in the opening set before claiming the second set 25-15. A close third set went 25-23 in the Brothers’ favor, and though pushed beyond the wire in the fourth set, it won 26-24 to close it out.
Logan Congel stepped up in a big way, earning a season-best 15 kills as part of a front line where Anna Jeschke had five kills, to go with eight assists and 10 digs. Liz Hucko contributed eight digs, three kills and three aces. Burns contributed six aces as Morh’ese Oben had seven digs and Adams six digs.
