Instead of turning things around following defeats to Westhill and Marcellus, the Skaneateles girls volleyball team saw things get worse before a bit of momentum was found again.

During last Monday’s match at LaFayette, the Lakers pulled out a close 27-25 win in the opening set. But that took a toll as the Lancers gradually took over and prevailed in the next three sets by margins of 25-16, 25-14 and 25-17.

Jessica Patalino picked up eight kills and five blocks, helped on the front line by Mia Grasso and Aidan Bennett, who had four kills apiece. Emily Baldwin earned four aces and three kills as Emma Goodell recorded 19 digs and Elizabeth Williams had seven digs. Cassidy Pitman earned nine assists.

LaFayette had plenty of standouts, especially on the defensive side. Logan Booth had 24 digs and 10 kills, with Sophia Powless getting 17 digs and 17 kills. Kyla Smoke added 14 digs and Rhiannon Abrams had 11 digs to go with 26 assists and four kills.  Lashiva Gonnella-Sigworth put up 10 digs and Serena Harrington had nine digs.

Another tough match loomed 24 hours later at Buckley Gym, with Skaneateles visiting Cazenovia. This battle of Laker teams would go in the host’s favor as Cazenovia needed just three sets to prevail 25-23, 25-11, 25-18.

That close opening set had a long-term effect, for Skaneateles was unable to recover from nearly pulling in front. Grasso and Baldwin each got four kills, but Patalino was held to three kills. Goodell managed 13 digs as Pitman earned six assists and Delasin got five assists.

On Cazenovia’s side, Molly Carges (nine kills), Morgan Hodinger (seven kills) and Danielle Tedesco (five kills) shared front-line responsibility as Lauren Lyons had 17 assists and Maleigha Ellithorpe six assists, plus seven digs. Hodinger added six digs.

The Lakers’ skid finally halted Thursday, at Syracuse’s Institute of Technology Central, where it put together a 25-14, 25-10, 25-18 sweep of the Eagles and Olivia Nye helped get things going with a season-best eight aces.

Pitman picked up four aces to go with her five assists. Up front, Patalino earned five kills, with Grasso and Williams each contributing four kills. Rachel Smith, Aidan Bennett and Jessica Casper each got two kills as Smith contributed three digs.

So with a 3-5 record, Skaneateles entered Tuesday’s neighborhood clash with rival Marcellus, and will be back home Thursday to face Altmar-Parish-Williamstown.