ONONDAGA COUNTY – All that the Liverpool boys volleyball team had done so far was a prelude to the biggest examination yet.
And it arrived Friday afternoon, the undefeated (5-0) Warriors offering its challenge to undefeated (7-0) Cicero-North Syracuse. And it was a legitimate battle, lasting four sets before the Northstars were able to prevail.
A solid 25-18 in the first set was followed by a closer second set. Liverpool nearly pulled even, but C-NS got the crucial points and won that set 25-23.
Not rattled by this, the Warriors moved out in front in the third set and stayed there, winning it 25-20. But now it was the Northstars displaying its quality, handling the fourth set 25-15 to put the match away.
With his 34 assists, three blocks and four kills, Brandon Millias set up points for Kevin Felasco, who had 14 kills, and Jamie Courtright, who stepped up with 11 kills. Nick Espinoza had nine kills and Gabe LaRobardiere added six kills, with Trace LaRobardiere picking up 13 digs.
Liverpool, who will get another shot at C-NS in the April 21 season finale, featured Quinn Moore earning 45 assists and Jackson Furr picking up 27 digs.
On the Warriors’ front line, Anthony Pezzino earned 15 kills and 18 digs as Elliott DeForge piled up 14 kills and seven digs. Anthony Caimano gained nine kills and Jeremy LaManche added three kills, with William Badluf adding six digs.
C-NS had played earlier in the week, against Fayetteville-Manlius, and though the Northstars prevailed in a three-set sweep, none of it was easy.
Those sets went 25-21, 25-20, 25-22 in C-NS’s favor, with Gabe LaRobardiere earning 14 kills and Kevin Felasco adding 10 kills as Nick Espinoza gained seven kills.
Feeding all of them, Millias gained 33 assists as Trace LaRobardiere picked up 15 digs. For F-M, Aidan Liddell had 24 assists, with Cyrus Felton and Isaac Frechette each earning seven kills and five digs.
Up against Jamesville-DeWitt last Wednesday afternoon, C-NS continued to roll, claiming each of the first two sets by 25-18 margins and then closing out another sweep 25-13 in the third.
Millias, with 16 assists, often passed it to Felasco, who managed 12 kills. Espinoza had six kills and Gabe LaRobardiere got five kills as Felasco and Robbie Siechen both gained three aces.
In its own tune-up last Tuesday against Central Square, Liverpool had a far easier time of it, sweeping past the Redhawks 25-3, 25-12, 25-16.
Elliott DeForge put away 10 aces and Quinn Moore managed seven aces, to go with his 16 assists and seven digs. Anthony Pezzino led the front line with nine kills, Anthony Caimano adding four kills as the pair got three aces apiece.
After its challenge to C-NS, Liverpool would face J-D, F-M and East Syracuse Minoa next week ,while the Northstars host Living Word Academy and Oswego.
