Decades of futility for the Chittenango girls volleyball team ended last February when, on its home court, the Bears toppled Vernon-Verona-Sherrill and won the Section III Class B championship.

Now comes a new role for Chittenango, as the prime target of each opponent who wants to take down the champions. At least so far, the Bears relish that position.

Each of Chittenango’s first four matches are on the road, and that stretch started last Monday night at Pulaski with a 25-9, 25-12, 25-18 sweep of the Blue Devils.

Tiffany Scofield earned 12 assists, adding three aces and three kills. Shelby Maring helped on the back line with eight assists as Natalie Cowburn had six assists and Brenna Stanton got four digs.

Tyla Cutrie picked up 12 kills and three aces, with Alyssa Bates adding five kills. Sydney Pellman earned four kills as Megan Mayer got three kills, three aces and four digs.

It figured to get tougher in Wednesday’s match at Christian Brothers Academy, but the Bears were just as good here as it was at Pulaski, roaring past the Brothers 25-16, 25-13, 25-15.

Igoring CBA’s 2-0 record, Chittenango got first-rate efforts from Cutrie, who had 14 kills and four digs, and Mayer, who got 13 kills and six digs. Maring picked up 14 assists and Scofield contributed 12 assists, joining Bates as they both matched Cutrie’s total of four digs.

From there, Chittenango would travel twice more, to Cato-Meridian Monday and to Cortland Thursday night, before its home opener on Dec. 11 against Onondaga.