Having already played in its fair share of early-season tournaments, the Baldwinsville girls volleyball team staged one of its own on the last Saturday of September.
A host of top teams from Section III and other parts of New York State were on hand, 24 in all, for the “Fall Swing” tournament, which would prove a springboard to the rest of the season.
And it all happened following a key early-season showdown between B’ville and Fayetteville-Manlius the night before, which the Bees handled with signature ease.
Even with the Hornets sporting a 6-0 record, the Bees dominated the match. The 25-18 first set proved closest as B’ville flattened F-M 25-6 in the second set and 25-11 in the third to end it.
Rileigh Kimball kept getting free on the front line and put away 21 kills, an average of seven kills per set, as Katie Welcher helped out, contributing eight kills and four aces. Sophia Cali and Sophia Kordas had three aces apiece, Kordas and Maddy Shuler each adding four kills.
Summer McClintic earned 22 assists, with Jenna Garvey contributing 10 assists. Defensively, Brooke Clute led with 10 digs, while Cali had nine digs and Welcher eight digs.
B’ville had, back on Tuesday night, roared past Corcoran 25-8, 25-9, 25-7, the effort including 16 assists from Garvey as Megan Brecht contributed nine assists.
Aside from her seven kills, McClintic produced five aces, while Kimball had four aces. Kordas and Shuler each had five kills as Welcher managed four digs.
Meanwhile, the Baldwinsville boys volleyball team started the week with its own match against Liverpool last Monday and, like the girls, would need just three sets to put away the Warriors.
In the 25-11, 25-22, 25-17 victory, the Bees equally depended on Luc Jerome and David Cornell on the front line as Jerome issued 10 kills and Cornell finished with nine kills.
Between them, plus Aidan Priest (five kills) and Nick Shultz (four kills), B’ville could handle the passes from Thomas Higman, who amassed 18 assists and four aces as Bradford Doubleday helped out with four assists.
It was much the same in Thursday night’s match against Syracuse City, where the Bees took just three sets to prevail 25-18, 25-8, 25-15 as Jerome produced five aces to go with eight kills.
Doubleday gained four aces and three digs, with Cornell getting six kills and Priest again earning five kills. Higman finished with 17 assists, adding a pair of aces.
