ONONDAGA COUNTY – In recent years, the Baldwinsville boys volleyball team had found itself overwhelmed and outclassed by its Salt City Athletic Conference rivals.
But after a 1-16 campaign in 2022, the Bees might be heading for something far different this fall, as evidenced by last Tuesday’s season opener, when it defeated rival Liverpool in four sets.
Against a Warriors side which had dominated this series, B’ville established its resistance even as it lost the opening set 25-23, turning it around by winning the second set 25-21.
Even more impressive was the third set, a 25-15 decision that got the Bees in front and carried over to the fourth, where it did just enough to claim a 25-22 decision and the overall match.
On the Bees’ back line, Nate Mekker had 21 assists, adding four kills and two blocks, while Brendan Micho earned 14 assists but also gained six kills, two blocks and two digs.
Leading a balanced B’ville front line, Brayden Kudarauskas had 12 kills, four digs and three aces, while Xzavier Vanderstuow had 10 kills and two aces. Ethan Davenport chimed in with five kills and five blocks as Logan Rodriguez added three kills.
Liverpool saw Jack DeForge earn a match-best 14 kills, but have less help as no one else had more than Sean Frawley’s six kills. Kellen Conway added 18 assists.
Now B’ville looked to follow it up against East Syracuse Minoa Friday night, but it could not quite do so, falling in four sets to the Spartans.
The Bees claimed the opener 25-23, only to have ESM pull out a tight second set 25-22 and win the third 25-15. B’ville almost forced it to a final set, but dropped the fourth 26-24.
Vanderstuow still managed 15 kills and Kudarauskas gained 13 kills. Davenport added seven kills as, on the back line, Mekker had 17 assists, Micho 11 assists and Justin Diep nine digs.
On ESM’s side, Donovan Randall, with 35 assists, passed it to a variety of teammates, from Austin Betts (11 kills) and Tyler Quarry (10 kills) to Jacob McGuigan and Caleb Byrd, who had seven kills apiece.
This week’s action includes the Bees meeting Living Word Academy Monday and challenging reigning state Division II champion Jamesville-DeWitt on Thursday night.
