DEWITT - Despite a Liberty League title and 17 wins on the season, including 11 straight, the Skaneateles volleyball team was unable to cap their successful campaign with a Section III, Class B title. Skaneateles fell 3-1 to fourth-seeded Cazenovia in the finals at Jamesville-DeWitt High School Saturday.
Chet Susslin / The Citizen
Skaneateles junior Alexa Campanile bumps the ball as Cazenovia sophomore Lizzy Reed jumps to block during Saturday night's Section III, Class B championship at Jamesville-DeWitt High School. Skaneateles lost the match 3-1.
Skaneateles junior Alexa Campanile bumps the ball as Cazenovia sophomore Lizzy Reed jumps to block during Saturday night's Section III, Class B championship at Jamesville-DeWitt High School. Skaneateles lost the match 3-1.
“This one loss won't take away our other accomplishments,” Skaneateles head coach Doreen Doctor said.
Second-seeded Skaneateles never went on any serious runs, like it had done for much of the season. Instead, it was a back-and-fourth match that finished 26-24, 19-25, 25-23, 25-23.
“It was a tough match and important for us to keep the momentum going,” Cazenovia head coach Brian Ellithorpe said. “Volleyball is a game all of momentum. That's why there are normally so many runs.”
Skaneateles won the first two meetings this season, the first by a 3-2 margin and the second 3-1.
“We hadn't played them in a month so we didn't know what to expect,” Ellithorpe said.
Cazenovia was coming off an upset of top-ranked Canastota 3-1 earlier in the week while Skaneateles had yet to lose a single set throughout the sectional tournament until Saturday.
“Skaneateles I think is the best team despite not being the top seed,” Ellithorpe said. “It felt good to be the first to beat them in a set, but the match was the important thing.”
Skaneateles senior Chloe Warner finished with a team-high 28 assists, while Destin VanTyle (five assists, 15 digs), Emily Wood (eight kills, four blocks), Ryan Merle (14 kills, and two blocks), Katherine Hill (11 kills, one block, and 23 digs) and Alexa Campanile (four kills, and 30 digs) contributed for Skaneateles, but the main story was the missed serves.
“No one wanted to miss their serves, but we did,” Doctor said. “It's hard to come back from that. We just shot ourselves in the foot.”
Skaneateles found itself in an unfamiliar situation when it was trailing or tied in most of the sets.
“It was a great volleyball game for both teams,” Doctor said. “We just couldn't get a run started. (I'm) not sure if it was nerves or pressure, but we learned a lesson. They tried to step up and put it over the net today.”
Earlier in the year, Doctor knew her team was talented enough to make a run despite having only Warner, Leigh Ryan and Amy Menapace as seniors. She even had a good feeling about facing Cazenovia in sectionals.
“I told the girls in November that (Cazenovia and Skaneateles) would be sitting here,” Doctor said. “Today's play was evident that these two teams are the best in Class B - close sets, back and fourth play. There's talent all around.”
Skaneateles finishes its season 17-3, while Cazenovia now will compete for a state title. Skaneateles will have at least nine returning players next year with playoff experience.
“We definitely have great expectations next season,” Doctor said. “They've seen hard competition and a playoff atmosphere. On top of that they are going to work hard.”
Cazenovia 3
Skaneateles 1
Second-seeded Skaneateles never went on any serious runs, like it had done for much of the season. Instead, it was a back-and-fourth match that finished 26-24, 19-25, 25-23, 25-23.
“It was a tough match and important for us to keep the momentum going,” Cazenovia head coach Brian Ellithorpe said. “Volleyball is a game all of momentum. That's why there are normally so many runs.”
Skaneateles won the first two meetings this season, the first by a 3-2 margin and the second 3-1.
“We hadn't played them in a month so we didn't know what to expect,” Ellithorpe said.
Cazenovia was coming off an upset of top-ranked Canastota 3-1 earlier in the week while Skaneateles had yet to lose a single set throughout the sectional tournament until Saturday.
“Skaneateles I think is the best team despite not being the top seed,” Ellithorpe said. “It felt good to be the first to beat them in a set, but the match was the important thing.”
Skaneateles senior Chloe Warner finished with a team-high 28 assists, while Destin VanTyle (five assists, 15 digs), Emily Wood (eight kills, four blocks), Ryan Merle (14 kills, and two blocks), Katherine Hill (11 kills, one block, and 23 digs) and Alexa Campanile (four kills, and 30 digs) contributed for Skaneateles, but the main story was the missed serves.
“No one wanted to miss their serves, but we did,” Doctor said. “It's hard to come back from that. We just shot ourselves in the foot.”
Skaneateles found itself in an unfamiliar situation when it was trailing or tied in most of the sets.
“It was a great volleyball game for both teams,” Doctor said. “We just couldn't get a run started. (I'm) not sure if it was nerves or pressure, but we learned a lesson. They tried to step up and put it over the net today.”
Earlier in the year, Doctor knew her team was talented enough to make a run despite having only Warner, Leigh Ryan and Amy Menapace as seniors. She even had a good feeling about facing Cazenovia in sectionals.
“I told the girls in November that (Cazenovia and Skaneateles) would be sitting here,” Doctor said. “Today's play was evident that these two teams are the best in Class B - close sets, back and fourth play. There's talent all around.”
Skaneateles finishes its season 17-3, while Cazenovia now will compete for a state title. Skaneateles will have at least nine returning players next year with playoff experience.
“We definitely have great expectations next season,” Doctor said. “They've seen hard competition and a playoff atmosphere. On top of that they are going to work hard.”
Cazenovia 3
Skaneateles 1
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