CENTRAL NEW YORK – Each of the area’s high school boys volleyball teams are bent on finding their way to the top of the two Section III divisions currently occupied by others.
Determined to go to the top of the Division II ranks, Jamesville-DeWitt got off to an impressive start last Tuesday night, sweeping the Oswego Buccaneers 25-16, 25-12, 25-23.
Luke McQuaid picked up 11 kills, with Aaron Ko getting seven kills and three blocks. Michael Ryan had five kills and five blocks as Tim Copper fed them all with 26 assists. Avery Kielbasinski had three aces and three kills.
Up in Division I, Fayetteville-Manlius would take on reigning sectional champion Liverpool Tuesday night, having won its opener against Syracuse City exactly one week earlier.
The three-set sweep was far from lopsided, with the Hornets battling all through a 25-19, 25-23, 26-24 defeat as Chris Cleary picked up 13 kills and five digs.
Connor Sugar, with 26 assists, fed to a front line led by Cleary and including Michael McAndrew (five kills), Max Danaher (four kills) and Charles Addonizio (three kills, two aces).
East Syracuse Minoa wants to step up as a contender this fall, and took a good first step last Thursday when, in its own match against Syracuse, the Spartans prevailed in four sets.
Syracuse dominated the first set 25-15, but ESM pulled even 25-18 in the second, then claimed a close third set 25-22 to move in front and closed it out 25-19 in the fourth.
On a balanced front line, Cole Thomas, Tristan Henderson and Ben Clappin had 10 kills apiece, Thomas adding a team-best 12 digs. Austin Betts contributed eight kills, with Donovan Randall earning 35 assists. Jacob Sehn had 10 digs.
Back in action against reigning sectional Division II champion Living Word Academy on Friday, ESM fell to 1-1 on the season in a four-set loss to the Lions.
Randall picked up 31 assists, his passes going to Thomas, who had 15 kills, and Henderson, who got 11 kills. Jacob McGuigan matched Randall’s total of six kills as Don Hamilton had a team-best eight digs.
