Though the big goals, especially a first-ever state Division I championship, remained in front of them, the Cicero-North Syracuse boys volleyball team has already made plenty of history in 2019.
When the Northstars defeated rival Liverpool Tuesday night, it completed a perfect 19-0 regular season, the first time C-NS has made it through a regular season without a loss.
The best part here was that the Warriors, vastly improved this fall, didn’t make things easy for C-NS, nearly grabbing the first set before the Northstars, at 24-24, got back the serve and held on to it, winning 26-24.
And the second set was close, too, but again C-NS prevailed, 25-22, moving on to claim the third set 25-18 as Brandon Millias was sensational, amassing 42 assists and adding 12 digs.
Dan Seliger put away 19 kills, while Kevin Felasco earned 11 kills and 10 digs. Carter Wisely gained nine kills and nine digs, Trace LaRobardiere also earning nine digs. John McDonough contributed three kills.
C-NS is the top seed for the Section III Division I playoffs and will meet Fayetteville-Manlius in next Wednesday’s semifinals, with Liverpool taking on Baldwinsville in the other semifinal at Liverpool Middle School that same night.
Liverpool, with a 7-10 regular-season mark, got the no. 5 seed, which meant going to Camillus to face no. 4 seed West Genesee last Wednesday, attempting to turn around a pair of regular-season sweeps it suffered at the expense of the Wildcats.
But the Warriors could not do so as the Wildcats claimed the opening set 25-21, and that proved the closest Liverpool would get. WG claimed the next two sets by 25-18 and 25-12 margins, advancing to face top seed and defending champion Baldwinsville in the semifinals.
Lexi Carfi had eight assists for the Warriors, with Veronica DeTota getting six assists. Abby Rowell produced a team-best five kills, with Carfi and Sarah Ayling each earning three kills. Helen Nash and Logan Bellrose had four digs apiece.
