As it does each winter, the Chittenango boys volleyball team made its debut on Dec. 27, taking part in Vernon-Verona-Sherrill’s annual tournament.

A week later, league play began against Sauquoit Valley, a marathon of a match that the Indians ultimately claimed in five sets, but not before a tremendous effort on the part of the Bears.

Chittenango won a close opening set 25-23, but Sauquoit took the second set 25-20 and then, in a third set that went beyond the wire, prevailed 26-24.

The fourth set saw both sides get multiple chances, either to end it (for the Indians) or keep it going (for the Bears), but Chittenango finally pulled it out 29-27 and set up a race to 15 points in the fifth set.

Ultimately, Sauquoit edged Chittenango 15-13 in that last set, led by Alex Philpotts’ 35 assists as Josh Ward got 17 kills, with Matt Aquaviva and C.J. Mancini each getting eight kills.

Defensively, the Bears got 14 digs from Griffin Furco, 12 digs from Seth Kimball to go with his eight aces and 10 digs from Caleb Barnard.

Meanwhile, Noah Watson earned 19 assists as, up front, Austin Strickler and Keith Spurgeon both got nine kills and Brandon Turner finished with eight kills. Strickler added three blocks and Watson had three aces.

All of it proved easier last Monday as Chittenango went to Oneida and swept the Indians, taking the first set 25-21 and each of the next two sets by equal 25-19 margins.

Weather postponed last Tuesday’s meet with Westmoreland, but the Bears would host Mount Markham two nights late

As for the undefeated Chittenango girls volleyball team, it continued to dominate opponents, going to Cato-Meridian last Monday and routing the Blue Devils 25-8, 25-9, 25-8.

The Bears had a season-best 30 aces, eight of them from Shelby Maring to go with eight assists as Savannah Penoyer had six aces, Bayla Cutrie five aces and Tyla Cutrie four aces, plus six kills. Sydney Pellman added three aces as Chelsea Lamphere also earned six kills and Natalie Cowburn got four assists.

Only the weather could stop Chittenango, due to a postponement of Tuesday’s meet at Weedsport, but the Bears were back against Fabius-Pompey on Friday and flew past the Falcons 25-15, 25-8, 25-18.

Tyla Cutrie had four aces to go with five kills and three blocks. Lamphere recorded five kills as Pellman also had five kills, with Bayla Cutrie earning four kills and seven assists. Katie Simmons nabbed eight assists, with Maring getting four assists and Caroly Myka contributing five assists. Jada Masciat finished with four digs.