When it built a two-set lead in Thursday’s match with LaFayette, the Skaneateles girls volleyball team may have felt safe, but that feeling did not last.
Roaring back, the Lancers claimed two straight sets to pull even, only to have the Lakers save its best work for the fifth set, where it won big.
Skaneateles handled LaFayette 25-13 in the opener and then comfortably won the second set 25-17. Then it got interesting, with the Lancers, on the brink of getting swept, pulling out the third set 25-22 and handling the fourth 25-19.
That rally took a toll, though, as Skaneateles zoomed out in front in the fifth set and did not let up until it had a 25-8 winning margin, having seen Lily Delasin amass 43 assists to go with nine digs and five aces.
Up front, Maeve Canty gained 22 kills and 19 digs, with Jessica Patalino amassing 19 kills, 17 digs and four aces. Emma Keady and Hannah Blowers had three kills apiece as Keady got seven digs and three assists.
On LaFayette’s side, Bethany Miller earned 18 assists, her passes often going to Grace Dow, who had 10 kills as Raegyn Garbutt earned 12 digs.
With a Sept. 6 defeat to Westhill fresh on its mind, the Lakers nearly fell into more trouble during last Tuesday night’s match against visiting Jordan-Elbridge.
The Eagles prevailed 25-22 in the first set, and had a chance in the second set, too, but that was when the Lakers took over, winning that set 25-19 and dominating the third 25-14 before a 25-20 third set closed out a Skaneateles victory.
All over the court, Patalino and Canty proved powerful, with Patalino gaining 19 kills to go with five aces and 11 digs as Canty earned 16 kills, eight assists, four aces and nine digs.
Delasin fed Patalino and Canty and finished with 28 assists, while Keady notched five aces and Lily Simmons earned four aces. Ellie Peterson (four digs), Blowers and Zoe Franciamone (three digs apiece) made defensive contributions.
After appearing in the Marcellus Tournament Saturday, the Lakers have two more home matches next week, welcoming Bishop Ludden Tuesday and Syracuse Academy of Science Thursday.
