ONONDAGA COUNTY – It was just one match, but it was quite a big one as far as the Fayetteville-Manlius boys volleyball team was concerned.

The Hornets’ three-set sweep of reigning sectional Division I champion Liverpool last Tuesday night in front of an excited home crowd suggested that it had potential to challenge for its own championship later this fall.

Only the second set proved close, a 25-23 decision sandwiched in between a 25-15 first set and 25-13 romp in the third.

F-M had more depth up front, with Chris Cleary, who had 14 kills, helped by six kills from Mike McAndrew and five kills from Kieran Egan in front of Connor Sugar, who produced 24 assists.
Liverpool did have Anthony Pezzino pick up 15 kills, but no other front-line player getting more than Ben McHerron’s three kills as Jack DeForge had 18 assists.

It proved different for F-M when it challenged Cicero-North Syracuse last Thursday night. With first place in the SCAC Metro division at stake, the Hornets were close in the first and third sets, but still lost, 25-21, 25-13, 25-22, to the Northstars.

Picking up 16 assists, Sugar passed it to Cleary (seven kills), Egan (six kills) and Max Danaher (four kills). On C-NS’s side, Joe Seliger (17 kills), Reece Congel (12 kills) and Carter King (10 kills) all proved powerful, with Jack Waite passing to them all and earning 35 assists.

Back on Tuesday, Jamesville-DeWitt and East Syracuse Minoa went head-to-head, with the Red Rams previaling in three sets over the Spartans.

J-D claimed the opener 25-17 and rolled through the second set 25-12. ESM made the third set a big longer, but the Rams still closed it out 25-21.

Tim Cooper, with his 22 assists, passed it to J-D teammates like Luke McQuaid, who had 10 kills, and Aaron Ko, who had eight kills. McQuaid also got four aces and three blocks as Aidan Bates had four kills, six digs, three assists and two blocks. Avery Kielbasinski also had four kills.

From there, J-D went on to sweep Baldwinsville 25-20, 25-11, 25-16 on Thursday night as ESM, against Liverpool, lost to the Warriors in a three-set sweep.

Playing again on Saturday, ESM had its own match with Baldwinsville, The Spartans won the opening set 25-14 and the second 25-20, matching that score in the fourth to end it after the Bees pulled out the third 25-23.

Cole Thomas gained 15 kills and 14 digs, with Tristan Henderson earning 13 kills and 10 digs. Ben Clappin had nine kills, with Jacob McGuigan and Jayce Domres landing six kills apiece as Donovan Randall earned 40 assists.