Have all of the struggles, and all of the tough opposition it has faced, made the Skaneateles girls volleyball team a more formidable unit?

The Lakers were 3-5 going into last Tuesday’s match against rival Marcellus, who was 5-3, and may have expected to improve on that mark. If so, Skaneateles dispelled those notions in a hurry.

During the opening set, the Lakers took control, winning it 25-13. More important was the second set, where the Mustangs nearly pulled even, but Skaneateles hung on and claimed a 25-23 decision.

Fueled with momentum from that win, the Lakers finished off the sweep 25-18 in the third set, sparked, more than anything else, by its defense as Emma Goodell earned 11 digs, plus a pair of aces.

Jessica Patalino had seven kills and three blocks, while Mia Grasso added four kills. Cassidy Pitman gained six assists and three aces as Sarah Delasin got four assists and three digs, with Rachel Smith earning four digs. Jenna Moore had three kills as Emily Baldwin contributed two kills, two aces and three digs.

Marcellus would see Meghan O’Brien earn six kills, helped by Allison Field (four kills) and Maggie Kianka (three kills), while Sydney French finished with six assists and Rachel Randall picked up 15 digs.

Skaneateles now looked for its third straight win Thursday, against visiting Altmar-Parish-Williamstown, and continued to roll, following a 25-18 first set with a 25-7 second set where it didn’t drop more than one point in any sequence.

Completing the sweep 25-11 in the third, the Lakers got 10 aces from Karah Blair, to go with three assists. Blair, Pitman (four assists) and Delasin (three assists) shared back-line duties as Goodell earned six digs. Grasso and Baldwin both earned four kills. Patalino had three kills and two blocks as Jessica Casper contributed two kills.

This pushed Skaneateles back to the .500 mark (5-5) going into October, with two more home matches slated for this week as it met Mexico on Monday and Solvay on Tuesday night.