CENTRAL NEW YORK – Eight consecutive victories, six of them sweeps, had brought the Chittenango boys volleyball team to its first big showdown of the winter.

And the match Friday against 7-0 Vernon-Verona-Sherrill proved an instant classic, the Bears having to make two different comebacks to outlast the Red Devils in five sets.

Unfazed by a 25-18 loss in the opening set, Chittenango took the second 25-15, and it again kept its poise after VVS pulled out a 25-21 decision in the third.

In fact, the Bears dominated the fourth set 25-12 and, in a final-set race to the 15-point mark, won it 15-8 as Jake Simmons led the way with 25 assists, seven kills, four blocks, four aces and three digs.

Nate Dziedzic had 10 kills, six blocks and eight digs, with Trevor Cole gaining nine kills and six digs. Tyler Watson had eight kills as Josh Boulter had 11 digs and Micah Alperuto earned 10 digs.

Earlier in the week, Chittenango received a challenge from Sauquoit Valley, but was able to put away the Indians in four sets.

It helped the Bears to win the first two sets 25-20 and 25-17, so when Sauquoit stood up and won the third 25-20, Chittenango could respond and, in another 25-17 decision, ended the match.

With his 30 assists, Simmons, who also had six kills, three aces and five digs, spread points around. Alperuto led with nine kills, while Cole had seven kills, three aces and seven digs. Boulter matched Simmons’ total of six kills as Dziedzic had four kills, three blocks and eight digs, Lawson Pagorek earning six digs.

Chittenango’s girls volleyball side welcomed 16-0 Tully Monday night, putting its own 9-1 record on the line – and getting off to a great start before the Black Knights rallied to prevail in four sets.

A tight, tense opening set went 26-24 in Chittenango’s favor. Then, in the second, the two sides again traded the lead and the Bears were on the brink of moving further ahead.

But when Tully pulled out the set by that same 26-24 margin, it took control, going on to roll past Chittenango 25-10 and 25-12 in the ensuing pair of sets.

Jackie Korosex, in defeat, had eight kills, with Morgan Velardi getting six kills. Lily Callahan put together 15 assists, four kills, three aces, two blocks and six digs as Rachel Gilbert (16 digs), Taylor Streiff (13 digs), Julia Tassone (12 digs) and Cara Kielbasa (11 digs) all did well on defense.

Alexa Shay, with 34 assists, led Tully’s back line, while Emma Byrne picked up 13 kills and 16 digs as Samantha Garback got seven kills, Veronica Kowaleski nine digs and Keagan Usherwood eight digs to go with her five kills.

Without any rest, Chittenango ventured to 12-2 East Syracuse Minoa 24 hours later and, after winning the opening set 25-22, lost the next two sets to the Spartans by equal 25-15 margins.

ESM then closed it out in a close fourth set 25-22 led by Natalie Peterson, with 27 assists and 10 digs. Laura Sitnik had 11 kills, four aces and 14 digs, with Margaret Mading adding 10 kills.

Callahan led in both kills (nine) and assists (15) and earned 17 digs, while Sreiff put up 10 aces and 22 digs, adding seven kills to match Korosex. Gilbert gained five kills as she and Stephanie Huckabee both finished with 12 digs.

Only on Thursday did the skid end, the Bears defeating Pulaski 25-7, 25-19, 25-21 as Gilbert had 10 kills and Korosex seven kills. Callahan earned 15 assists and Ashley Montroy stepped up with 10 assists, four aces and 10 digs.