Once the Cazenovia volleyball team cleared all the hurdles to earn the Section III Class B championship, it could now take full advantage of its move from Class C once it entered the state tournament.
In the past, whenever the Lakers reached this point, it would reach an inevitable conclusion, as it did in 2016 when Eden, on the way to an eighth consecutive state title, knocked out Cazenovia.
But Eden was still in Class C this fall, and Cazenovia, so the road to a possible state final four appearance remained steep, but something the Lakers could pull through – and did.
At Victor High School Wednesday night, Cazenovia met Section V champion Wayne in the first round of regional play, and though things got nervous many different times during the match, the Lakers beat the Eagles in four sets.
The first set was back and forth the entire way, neither side gaining any sort of lead. Only at 24-24 did Cazenovia go in front for good, pulling out set point and winning it 26-24.
Buoyed by that effort, the Lakers controlled the second set 25-15, and went for a sweep. Wayne resisted, leading comfortably through most of the third set and withstanding a Cazenovia charge to take it 25-22 and extend the match.
In the fourth set, the Lakers saw a 15-10 lead disappear as the Eagles tied it, 16-16, but Cazenovia restored the margin to 23-17 and held off one last Wayne charge to win 25-23 and advance.
Morgan Hodinger not only led the Lakers with 13 kills, she also managed 29 digs, part of a superb defensive effort that included 23 digs from Lauren Burbidge, who also had five aces.
Delaney Yorks finished with 39 assists, adding 12 digs. Laura Clements and Ryleigh Tilison also got 12 digs as Tilison and Lindsey Lawson each produced 10 kills, with Madison West gaining eight kills.
On Friday morning, Cazenovia traveled to Daemen College in the Buffalo suburbs to face Section VI champion East Aurora in the Class C regional finals, and an ability to finish strong made the difference in the Lakers’ four-set victory over the Blue Devils.
The first set seemed, at the time, to be a missed opportunity. Cazenovia ignored the odd 9 a.m. start time and roared out to a quick lead, stretching it out to 18-12 to make East Aurora use a time-out.
However, the Blue Devils roared back, tying it at 20-20, and from there it went back and forth until, at 25-25, East Aurora got the serve and, with Julia Halsey’s kill, pulled it out 27-25.
Behind for the first time in the post-season, the Lakers offered a positive response, trading points in the second set until strong serves from Hodinger and Burbidge produced a big surge. East Aurora couldn’t answer and, by a 25-13 margin, Cazenovia pulled even.
Cazenovia also started quickly in the third set before the Blue Devils got even, and it went close from there, each side gaining points but not creating any separation.
Clements went out, forcing the Lakers to deepen its bench and use the likes of Hope King and Lexi Sherwood. But with some big plays from the likes of West, the Lakers claimed the set 25-22 and were now one set from a trip to Glens Falls.
East Aurora would not make it easy, bolting to a 6-2 lead in the fourth set. They traded points for a while, but Cazenovia caught up, seized control and dominated the latter portion of the set, winning 25-20 and bringing home the regional championship.
Hodinger gained six aces and 22 digs to go with her team-beset 14 kills. Lawson managed 13 kills, with Tilison notching 12 kills and 10 digs and West adding seven kills. On the back line, Yorks produced 41 assists and Burbidge amassed 35 digs, to go with four aces. Clements had five digs and King contributed four digs.
And now the Lakers seek some history at Glens Falls’ Cool Insuring Arena (formerly the Civic Center), having already gone further than it’s ever traveled in the state tournament.
Next Saturday at 3 p.m., Cazenovia starts pool play against the other three teams in the field, two sets apiece, with the two best sides advancing to the Nov. 19 best-of-five championship match at 2 p.m.
