ONONDAGA COUNTY -When the Fayetteville-Manlius girls volleyball team claimed the Gold division of its own Sept. 11 tournament, it culminated a strong opening week – but did not hint at the future.

Immediately, the Hornets had to turn around and face powerhouse Baldwinsville, who again displayed its skills by taking just three sets to prevail again.

The key moment came in the first set when it proved close, but B’ville emerged on top 25-23. Claiming the next two sets 25-15 and 25-14, B’ville saw Kyrah Wilbur get 12 kills and three aces and excel on the defensive side, too, earning 14 digs.

Veronica Derosh also finished with 14 digs, while Kathryn AuClair had eight digs and Sadie Phelps had six digs, plus two kills and two aces. Madison MacKaig’ managed 20 assists.

F-M still saw Zoe Myint amass 35 assists, passing it to, among others, Rebekah Beasley, who led with 10 kills. Kaylene Nobel had seven kills, with Kalnya Dellenberg adding five kills and Hannah Williamson getting four kills. Nobel added 14 digs as Molly McNany amassed 23 digs.

Now the Hornets looked to recover in last Wednesday’s match at Cicero-North Syracuse, and claimed the opening set 27-25, only to drop the next three sets to the Northstars 25-16, 25-16 and 25-20.

Bishop Grimes took on LaFayette last Tuesday and, after dropping the first set 25-15, pulled out the second set 26-24 and went in front with a 25-18 victory in the third set.

But the Lancers took the fourth set 25-18 and, in a classic final set, edged the Cobras 26-24, overcoming fine efforts from Tori Sikorski (11 kills, five aces) and Avery Burnette (nine kills, four aces) as they each got eight digs.

Tori Coppola put together 22 assists, four aces and six digs, with Hannah Kinne adding five kills. Althea Simmons got 12 digs and Josie Schembri earned four kills.