ONONDAGA COUNTY – One day the East Syracuse Minoa boys volleyball team might put it all together and finally get the best of Jamesville-DeWitt, but it has not happened yet.
Even sporting a 12-2 record the Spartans have not toppled the Red Rams, despite another chance to do so in Tuesday night’s match that went to four sets.
J-D, sporting a 42-match win streak that included a sweep of ESM in September, pulled out a 25-20 win in the opening set, only to see the Spartans inch in front in the second and stay there, 25-21, to even the match.
Try as it could, though, ESM could not gain many more leads. Steady play from J-D led to a 25-18 victory in the third set and, in another 25-20 battle, the Rams were victorious in the fourth to end it.
Avery Kielbasinski nearly produced a set’s worth of points through his 21 kills and five blocks, to go with nine digs. Carsen Kaelin had 38 assists, Owen Dougherty getting seven kills and Chime Okereke six kills as Nevin Cosbey and Kian Sarmast earned five kills apiece.
Tyler Quarry stepped up and, with his 16 kills, led a strong Spartans front line. Ryan Sullivan got 10 kills, with Caleb Byrd adding eight kills and Jacob McGuigan converting six kills. Tommy Clonan’s 10 digs led the defense as Randall got nine digs and Byrd picked up seven digs.
As a follow-up, J-D on Friday made it 43 in a row handling Baldwinsville 25-16, 25-9, 25-22. Kaelin earned 27 assists and fed many of them to Dougherty, who led with 12 kills ahead of Kielbasinski’s nine kills and four blocks. Sarmast added four kills as Coseby served up five aces and Kaelin four aces.
Before this, on Oct. 12 ESM swept Syracuse City 25-18, 25-20, 25-16. The balance between McGuigan, Quarry (11 kills each) and Sullivan (10 kills) proved quite effective as Randall earned 38 assists and Clonan produced 13 digs.
ESM then took on SCAC Metro division leader Liverpool Friday night and, again, was defeated, the Warriors avenging an earlier loss to the Spartans by winning in four sets.
Each of Liverpool’s wins were by 25-22 margins in the first, third and fourth setse, with a 25-22 second set going to ESM. Quarray and McGuigan had 10 kills apiece, with Byrd getting seven kills and Sullivan five kills to match Randall, who had 33 assists. Byrd (nine digs) and Anthony Fogel (eight digs) led the defense.
Before this, Liverpool got the best of Fayetteville-Manlius as for the second time this fall the Hornets could not get a set from the Warriors 25-13, 25-19, 25-17.
Ben Resig still had nine kills, Charlie Schroder adding six kills to match Patrick Horton, who dished out 19 assists. Liverpool’s Kellen Conway had 32 assists passing it to Jack DeForge (14 kills) and Sean Frawley (11 kills).
F-M did far better Friday beating Cicero-North Syracuse in three sets 25-18, 25-17, 25-23. Though the Northstars tried hard to stretch it out the Hornets had the answers, especially Resig with his 19 kills as Schroder got 11 kills and Horton earned 33 assists. Ethan Wong led the defense with eight digs.
