In one of its busiest stretches of the regular season, the Cazenovia girls volleyball team would play three times in four nights, with the toughest match right in the middle.

That was last Tuesday’s Laker dual, Cazenovia against Skaneateles in the cozy confines of Buckley Gym, and it turned into quite a battle, stretching to five sets before the visiting Lakers prevailed.

Twice, Cazenovia would go out in front, claiming the first set 25-18 and, after Skaneateles earned the second set 25-19, rebounded to win a close third set 25-21.

Yet it was here that the visiting Lakers took over, rolling through the fourth set 25-15 and the fifth set 25-10 to pull out the match as Maeve Canty led them with 23 kills and 18 digs, while Emma Keady had 32 assists, seven digs and five kills.

A night before facing Skaneateles, Cazenovia ventured to LaFayette and had one of its best all-around efforts.

Though the Lancers came into the match sporting an 8-2-1 record, the Lakers had control from the outset, claiming the first set 25-16, and after it won a close second set 25-23, Cazenovia closed it out 25-17 in the third set.

Kylie Fenton produced seven kills, two blocks and 12 digs. Helen Hauser had a team-best eight kills, while Maddie Waite matched Fenton’s total of 12 digs. Josie Averyearned 23 assists, three aces and six digs as Lindsey Clements got nine digs.

On LaFayette’s side, Layla Isaacs and Grace Dow each had seven kills, Dow adding five blocks. Keeley Jocko finished with 21 assists as Raegyn Garbutt got 19 digs and Makiyah Lazore earned 11 digs.

The loss to Skaneateles didn’t discourage Cazenovia, either, because it went to Hannibal last Thursday night and defeated the Warriors in four sets to improve its overall record to 9-3.

Another big week looms for the Lakers, with matches against Hamilton and Syracuse Academy of Science before Saturday’s Onondaga High School League tournament in Phoenix.