ONONDAGA COUNTY – As is usually the case, the Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool girls volleyball teams find their fates tied to that of their mutual red-clad rivals from Baldwinsville.
It was the Northstars, after all, who stunned the Bees in last fall’s Section III Class AA semifinal, something the Warriors had tried to pull off for years but never could.
Now they were all facing one another again, with Liverpool (who was 12-6 a season ago) hosting B’ville in last Tuesday night’s season opener and taking a four-set defeat.
Even with new coach Danielle Sayler replacing the legendary Mary Jo Cerqua, the Bees remained formidable, taking the first two sets 25-17 and 25-18.
Liverpool did avoid a sweep with a 26-24 win in the third, but B’ville closed it out in a tight 25-22 fourth set, led by Kyrah Wilbur’s 15 kills, Madalynn Gulich’s 25 assists and Sadie Phelps’ 17 digs.
On the Warriors’ side, Sophie Sageer had nine kills and seven digs, while Lola Sageer got eight kills and nine digs. Lauren Poland contributed six kills as Allyson Crandall (17 assists) and Addie Tanton (11 assists) worked on the back line and Tanton tacked on seven digs. Madison Ames had six digs, four kills and three aces.
C-NS, on the other hand, had a far easier opening assignment last Wednesday night, turning aside the Corcoran Cougars 25-7, 25-11, 25-9.
Carly Overend had five aces and Lauren Capone four aces as, up front, Maddy Howell put away 10 kills. Elle Blumer finished with 14 assists.
The Northstars face reigning sectional champion Fayetteville-Manlius Friday after playing in the Hornets’ own tournament last Saturday and taking on West Genesee Monday. Liverpool meets Nottingham and West Genesee before going to the Victor Tournament this Saturday.
