Lakeview sweeps PV in playoff opener
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CORTLAND -- Lakeview controlled the pace throughout on Thursday, earning a 3-0 sweep over Pymatuning Valley in the first round of Division V, Northeast 1, tournament play.
The Bulldogs won their sets 25-5, 25-13, and 25-9.
Lakeview was without one of its top dogs, senior middle hitter Anna Haynie, but the rest of the lineup adapted to her absence and thrived.
"At the beginning of the year, we were still working out some kinks, and then I just feel like every game that we’ve played, every time that we’ve stepped on the court, we’ve gotten continuously better," Bulldogs coach Heather Kiser said.
Annaliese DeJulio was a force for Lakeview, leading the way in service points (14), aces (5), and recorded 10 kills alongside Cady Esker.
Additionally, Cecelia DeToro recorded 30 assists.
"She’s running an amazing offense right now, and she knows that she can’t run that without our passes," Kiser said.
Running two liberos, sophomore Ella Gough and senior Rylie Gillespie, has made things easier.
"That has really helped us this year," Kiser said. "It's helped speed the game up, and it gives me two strong defenders on the court at all times."
The win moves Lakeview to 18-5 on the season. In those victories, the Bulldogs have dropped only seven sets, compared to 13 sweeps.
At the tail end of each set, Lakeview was tasking its younger players to finish it off, earning the more inexperienced players some very valuable tournament playing time.
"This is going to be them next year," Kiser said. "I’m losing four girls because my seniors are going to be graduating, so I’m looking for four girls to fill their spots."
Pymatuning Valley ends its season at 4-19. It's been a rollercoaster of a year marred by injuries to multiple starters, and Thursday's contest was no different, with four of the Lakers' starters missing due to the National FFA Convention.
"We had girls in so many different positions, and just being able to work together (was great to see)," Pymatuning Valley coach Donna Shinault said. "They held their own. They didn’t totally get demolished, and they were able to keep some nice rallies with them."
The Lakers return plenty of their lineup from this season, only graduating three seniors. Those coming back learned a valuable lesson on Thursday.
"They were able to stick with the No. 3 seed for a while, and not everybody can do that, especially when they’re not used to a position or playing next to somebody all season," Shinault said. "And my young girls that are injured, letting them know that they still have more to play. It’s not over. Keep that going, and these younger girls got the experience that they needed being out on the floor."
While Lakeview has its eyes on a third-straight district crown, Kiser mentioned how that’s still a ways away.
The win puts the Bulldogs in the district semifinals where they’ll face off with Akron Manchester on Tuesday in Cortland.
"They definitely have that in their minds that they really want to get there again, however, they know that we can’t even think about that yet," she said. "We have to focus on what’s ahead of us."