Cicero-North Syracuse boys volleyball coach Mike Lucia described Tuesday’s five-set road victory against rival Liverpool as an “instant classic,” and he has plenty of evidence to back up that lofty classification.
The Northstars roared back after dropping the first two sets, ultimately claiming the thriller, 3-2 (18-25, 26-28, 25-21, 28-26, 15-13) and extended their winning streak to 19 matches.
“The gym was electric. Both fan bases were there in full force,” Lucia said. “I told my guys after the second set, I said, ‘Everyone in the gym who knows volleyball thinks we’re going to get blown out in the third.’ … For those guys to come out in the third set and win that third set, that was special. … That was the most impressive thing tonight.”
>> Boys volleyball standings and scoreboard
C-NS is now 5-0 this season, while Liverpool falls to 2-1.
With last year’s perfect 14-0 regular-season mark and no sectional playoffs in 2020, the Northstars haven’t lost since falling to Shenendehowa in five sets in the state playoffs on Nov. 16, 2019. The Northstars haven’t been defeated by a Section III foe in almost three years -- their last setback came against Fayetteville-Manlius on Oct. 18, 2018.
Though his squad came out on top Tuesday, Lucia knows that the Warriors are a serious threat to C-NS’ lengthy run of consecutive sectional titles. The only returning starter from last year’s Northstars’ club is Gabe LaRobardiere, who compiled a match-high eight blocks and tied for the most kills 18 as well.
“The entire volleyball community knows each other. Both teams were at center court after the match. This Liverpool team is a really special group,” Lucia said. “I told the guys, ‘You can’t measure heart.’ … We lost 11 seniors last year and the heart they showed is the most impressive thing.”
In the win, Robbie Siechen had a match-best 43 assists and Carter King contributed 15 kills and a team-high 11 digs. Nolan Fedit racked a team-best 32 assists and had 13 digs as well for Liverpool, Elliott DeForge led the team with 18 kills and had 13 digs, Anthony Pezzino had 15 kills and 11 digs.
The next showdown between the rivals will come on Oct. 18, when the Northstars host the Warriors.
“I think for anyone who was in the gym tonight, they’re hooked,” Lucia said. “We know we’ll be seeing them again and who knows? Maybe we’ll meet up a third time in sectionals.”
Boys soccer
Nottingham 1, Cicero-North Syracuse 0 (2OT)
The Bulldogs earned their third straight victory and improved to 4-2 overall with a big win on the road. Frederick Butler scored the lone goal of the contest in double-overtime.
In the win, Nottingham goalie Kipling Korba-Davis grabbed 13 saves. Northstars goalie Wyatt Dupell had eight stops in net.
The Bulldogs will try to continue their streak next time out against Fayetteville-Manlius at 6 p.m. on Thursday. C-NS will look to improve its 3-3-1 record when it faces Henninger on the road at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.
>> Boys soccer standings and scoreboard
Girls soccer
Cicero-North Syracuse 2, Baldwinsville 1
The Northstars are still perfect. A second-half goal from Briana Dorrance pushed C-NS past the visiting Bees and improved the team’s record this season to 8-0.
With the loss, Baldwinsville falls to 3-4-2.
Liana Mostrianska got the scoring started with a first-half goal before Mckenna Slate answered for the hosts before intermission. In the win, Avery Byrnes had five saves and Bees goalie Alexandra Gomez recorded nine saves.
>> Girls soccer standings and scoreboard
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