CENTRAL NEW YORK – Even with its recent win streak, the Cicero-North Syracuse boys volleyball team is quite aware of the work still ahead if it wants to climb back and challenge Fayetteville-Manlius for top Division I honors.
And what was more, they all trailed reigning state Division II champion Jamesville-DeWitt, who defeated the Northstars last Thursday night in four sets – which, by itself, was a significant development.
In seven previous matches, the Red Rams had swept everybody in three, but that changed here in the opening set as an inspired C-NS side, playing at a top level, won 25-22 to get the early jump on J-D.
It didn’t last, though. A tight second set ultimately went 25-21 in the Rams’ favor, and from there J-D picked up its level of play, overwhelming C-NS 25-15 in the third set and 25-16 in the fourth set.
Carter King finished with 12 kills, helped by Joey Luskasiewicz’s seven kills and Luke Wieczorek’s five kills. Noah Hendry added three aces and eight digs as Jack Waite recorded 28 assists.
For J-D, Tim Cooper’s 42 assists led to 15 kills for Luke McQuaid and 11 kills for Avery Kielbasinski, among others.
Two nights earlier, J-D had faced Liverpool and beat the Warriors as it won the first two sets 25-16 and 25-12 before holding on 25-23 in the third to close it out.
Liverpool got eight kills from Jack DeForge, six kills from Sean Frawley and 18 assists from Kellen Conway, helped on the back line by Shah Subak’s 18 digs.
For the Rams, McQuaid earned 11 kills and Phoenix McBride managed nine kills. Aaron Ko got eight kills and nine digs, while Cooper, who also had five kills, gathered up 39 assists.
Against Living Word Academy that same Tuesday night, C-NS was steady and strong, taking the first and third sets by equal 25-17 margins and the third set 25-14 to earn the sweep.
Again pacing the C-NS front line, King gained 14 kills, with Wieczorek adding nine kills. Phillip Greer had four kills as Waite, aside from his five kills, earned 28 assists. Josh Luce had a team-best five digs.
Liverpool would get back in the win column last Wednesday against Central Square, taking the first set 25-22 and then closing out the Redhawks 25-15 over the next two sets.
Most of Conway’s 25 assists went to DeForge, who gained 18 kills. Cody Badger helped out with seven kills, Frawley getting five kills and Conway tacking on four kills. Ben McHerron had a team-best five digs.
Then the Warriors swept Canisius, from Buffalo, 25-21, 25-16, 25-21 on Friday night, led byh DeForge’s 22 kills, five blocks and eight digs. McHerron contributed six kills as Conway earned 29 assists and eight digs, Frawley six digs and Shah Sahak and Bryce Blanch five digs apiece.
When C-NS took its turn against Canisius on Saturday afternoon, it also won in three sets, getting through a close opener 25-22 but then taking the next two 25-12 and 25-18.
Earning 25 assists, Waite spread his passes to King, who had 11 kills, along with Wieczorek (seven kills) and Lukasiewicz (six kills), with Josh Luce earning seven digs. The Northstars play Thursday night at East Syracuse Minoa.
