ONONDAGA COUNTY – What the Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool girls volleyball teams both understand is that any progress will get measured against Baldwinsville, who has dominated the local large-school scene for decades.
And the Warriors would get the first shot at the Bees last Wednesday night, proving quite competitive throughout this match even though it ultimately lost in three sets.
The first set went 25-21 in B’ville’s favor. Liverpool nearly pulled even with a strong second set but, two points from claiming it, lost serve at 25-25 and did not get it back.
Taking that set 27-25 and the third set 25-20, the Bees featured 14 kills from Kyrah Wilbur and 20 assists from Madison McKaig.
On the Warriors’ side, eighth-grader Lois Sageer amassed eight kills and seven blocks, with sophomore Sophie Sageer also getting eight kills to go with eight digs. Marissa DiStefano had three blocks and Eliana Page six digs as, on the back line, Addie Tanton recorded 12 assists and Allyson Crandall added seven assists.
Before that, Liverpool opened on Sept. 2 against Fulton and proved quite impressive, following up 25-23 and 25-21 wins in the first two sets with a 25-13 romp of the Red Raiders in the third set for the sweep.
Lola Sageer put away 14 kills and contributed six blocks, adding three aces as Alyssa Zimmer got five kills and six digs. Sophie Sageer had four aces and three kills. Page earned 10 digs, with Tanton (nine assists) and Crandall (five assists) sharing back-line responsibilities.
Facing Jamesville-DeWitt two days later, the Warriors dropped the first set 27-25, but that only seemed to refocus Liverpool, who went on to dominate the next three sets 25-15, 25-14 and 25-15.
Again it was Sophie and Lola Sageer providing all-around skill, Sophie earning 18 kills, seven digs and three aces as Lola put away 11 kills and amassed nine aces. Tanton notched 22 assists and Crandall managed 11 assists, with Page adding four kills and six digs.
C-NS took a different road, playing in the Sept. 4 Penfield Tournament and then another tournament at Fayetteville-Manlius a week later, not having to deal with B’ville until Sept. 27.
In its league opener against Corcoran, the Northstars handled the Cougars 25-11, 25-13, 25-18, with Natalie Tice playing a superb all-around match.
Tice amassed 14 assists, earned seven kills and served up six aces. Maddy Howell had six kills, with Carley Overend, Alita Carey-Santangelo and Madison Roche picking up five kills apiece. Maddy Manz added eight digs.
