ONONDAGA COUNTY –

Sixteen long months ago, the Cicero-North Syracuse boys volleyball team left the court in Albany as state Division I runners-up, eager to see if, a season later, it could climb that final step to the ultimate prize.

Then COVID-19 struck, canceling all “high-risk” fall sports and, worse yet, threatening the very possibility of volleyball until New York State eased its restrictions to allow for a season after all.

Practices started March 8, and less than two weeks later the Northstars were, at last, in action again, reminding everyone that it’s still the standard for all local programs.

C-NS swept the Syracuse City side 25-3, 25-8, 25-5 in last Thursday’s opener, putting together long point streaks and amassing 26 aces in the course of the night.

Eight of those aces went to Jamie Courtright, with Brandon Millias gaining six aces to go with his 12 assists and C.J. Carter contributing four aces.

Robbie Siechen helped Millias on the back line, gaining nine assists as Jared Gilbert picked up five kills. Grant Sennett and Nick Espinoza had four kills apiece as Courtright and Brandon Champion both had three kills.

It figured to get tougher Saturday against a Fayetteville-Manlius side who handled Living Word Academy in its opener, but the Northstars also swept the Hornets, taking the first set 25-16 and the next two sets by margins of 25-20 and 25-21.

Felasco earned nine kills and Espinoza gained eight kills to pace the front line as Gabe LaRobardiere stepped up with six kills. Millias earned picked up 29 assists, adding three kills and four blocks as Trace LaRobardiere had six digs.

Meanwhile, Liverpool, who would get two weeks of matches before its April 2 battle with C-NS, opened strong against Jamesville-DeWitt, sweeping the Red Rams 25-15, 25-17, 25-20.

Anthony Pezzino, with 13 kills, and Elliott DeForge, with 11 kills, handled much of the Warriors’ front-line duties as Pezzino also got seven digs and DeForge served up eight aces.

Passing it to them, Quinn Moore earned 24 assists, adding eight digs and two aces, with Jackson Furr leading on the defensive side thanks to his 14 digs.

Liverpool hosts Baldwinsville, Living Word and Oswego this week, with C-NS getting its own match against B’ville in between contests against Central Square and East Syracuse Minoa.