The Cicero-North Syracuse boys volleyball team wanted to repeat its Division I regional championship from 2015 – and did so.
The Northstars prevailed last Saturday night at Jamesville-DeWitt against Section II champion Shenendehowa, rallying to defeat the Plainsmen in a four-set classic.
The high level of play was evident in the opening set. C-NS was producing a lot of long rallies and great saves even as Shen was prevailing, 25-20, so it carried confidence into the second set.
There, the Northstars, helped by a pair of spectacular digs, grabbed an 11-8 edge. Several times, the Plainsment got within a point, but could not catch up, including at set point as C-NS held on, 25-23, and the two sides were even.
As often happens, a third set in an even match proved decisive. Trailing 7-3, C-NS rattled off four straight points to get even and, after an exchange, broke a 15-15 tie with a 5-1 run.
Shen made its own comeback, though, and got three different set points, but the Northstars saved all of them and, at 27-27, gained back the serve and won that set 29-27. Exhilarated by that effort, C-NS roared out to an 11-3 lead in the fourth set and never got caught, winning it 25-18 to claim another regional title.
On a well-balanced front line, Trevor Caviness got 12 kills and three blocks, while JoshBigford earned 10 kills and three blocks. Robert Patzer added eight kills as Connor Millias produced 31 assists and three kills and Justin Kegebein contributed three aces. Trent Cvainess had a team-best five digs.
And this brings C-NS to Suffolk County Community College on Long Island, where it will play for a state championship. Round-robin matches start Saturday at 10 a.m., with the finals set for 2 p.m.
