ONONDAGA COUNTY – As they both got underway in a season that was supposed to begin late in August, the Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool girls volleyball teams were both grateful to compete, but would be happier earning victories.
Of the two, only the Northstars did so in last Friday night’s opening matches, taking four sets to knock off Jamesville-DeWitt as the Warriors fell to West Genesee in another four-set decision.
In C-NS’s match, all four sets proved close, with the biggest margin just four points, 25-21. It included a 27-25 opening set as, most of the night, the Northstars got the crucial points to separate from the Red Rams.
Cassidy Ormond set up points with her 34 assists as libero Hannah Mingle was everywhere keeping points alive thanks to her 27 digs, Ormond adding six digs.
McKenna Johnston earned 12 kills, served up seven aces and got eight digs as Brooke Segars had 10 kills and four aces. Alita Santangelo also had four aces as Maddy Howell (six kills) and Emma Koenig (five kills) provided further front-line depth.
Liverpool, meanwhile, got off to a great start against West Genesee, taking the first set by a comfortable 25-15 margin, and were close to going up 2-0 in sets.
But the Wildcats snagged that set 25-23 along with the third set 25-19, and in a close fourth set the Warriors nearly pushed the match to the limit, only to get beat again 25-23.
Lexi Carfi led Liverpool with eight kills and eight assists. Logan Bellrose served up five aces to go with four kills and four digs as Emma Terzini got five kills and three blocks. Sophie Saeger and Marissa DiStefano both had three kills, Saeger also earning three blocks.
On WG’s side, Olivia Snyder and Maggie Clancy split back-line duties, Snyder earning 15 assists and five digs as Clancy got 14 assists and six digs. Phoebe Anderson put up 10 kills. Izzy Allen had nine kills, nine digs and three aces.
