CENTRAL NEW YORK – Straight-set defeats to Homer and Solvay in each of its first two matches threatened to derail the Cazenovia girls volleyball team, but it managed to turn things around.
First, the Lakers prevailed over Phoenix in four sets on Sept. 9 as Carleigh Szalach had 11 assists and Caryn Gagnon picked up five assists.
Kennedy Snyder led the Cazenovia defense with eight digs as Zoe McLean and Maren Smith both got five digs. Smith also had four aces and five kills, with Eliza Burney earning five kills and three aces. McLean had four kills and two aces.
Then Cazenovia claimed the Silver division at the Sept. 11 Fayetteville-Manlius Tournament, a confidence boost that it hoped to carry over into a pair of league matches – which it did.
Handling Altmar-Parish-Williamstown last Tuesday night, the Lakers tore through the first set 25-11, took the second set 25-16 and won the third 25-15 over the Rebels.
Gagnon backed up her eight assists with four aces as Corrine Albicker stepped up with six aces, plus three digs. Szalach also had four aces, with Gurney earning five kills as she and Smith both produced three aces and McLean had three kills.
Seeking its third win in a row against Jordan-Elbridge last Thursday night, the Lakers instead suffered a five-set loss to the Eagles.
Having dropped the opening set 25-18, Cazenovia got the second set 25-17. It went back and forth again, the Eagles claiming the third set 25-19 but the Lakers grabbing the fourth set 25-16.
J-E then rolled in the final set 25-14 to claim the match, though Szalach and Smith both earned 12 kills as Smith added three aces. Gagnon contributed 17 assists, four kills and four aces .For the Eagles, Sarah Lane got 17 assists for the Eagles, passing it to Gabby Smart, who had nine kills, and Sydney Parsons, who had eight kills.
Cazenovia would play twice more this week, going to Westhill Monday before hosting Hannibal on Wednesday night.
