VOLLEYBALL Wildcats rally past Falcons and into region final
Arundel was down, but it was never out. Most volleyball teams down two games to none have little hope of victory. It was Severna Park’s match to win.
But around the time that a few South River players trickled into the gymnasium to watch, Arundel came back.
Their next opponent was just feet away, and last year’s runner-up had a championship to fight back to.
The Wildcats rallied to win threestraight sets, defeating the Falcons in five games to claim the 4A East Section I final crown, 25-21, 25-14, 25-23, 25-18, 15-11 on Wednesday.
Senior Mackenzie Meehan, an overflowing source of energy on the court, powered Arundel (16-2) with 18 kills, aided by Abby Niles, who had a whopping 37 assists. Sophomore Brooke Watts kept the defense stable with 12 digs.
But at first, there were severe cracks in the Wildcats’ foundation, and Severna Park (8-8) exposed them. Though the two were effectively neck-and-neck to start the first set – which would be an occurring theme on the night – the Falcons took off mid-game with a seven-out-of-eight point run.
Even as the Wildcats nearly caught up, behind by just one point near the end, the Falcons could taste victory. A ball hit too hard on Arundel’s part secured Severna Park’s 25th point and a 1-0 lead.
For Arundel, the second set showed no more promise.
In fact, it showed less.
Though, once again, the count was fairly even for the first dozen points, the Falcons unearthed holes in the Wildcat’s defense and began drilling kills into them.
Led by a pair of kills from sophomore Sienna DiCicco, the Falcons surged to a 20-9 lead. With every point gained, Severna Park screamed as if each was their 25th. Winning a second set would open the door for a sweep.
But even then, the Wildcats showed signs they were capable of a comeback that could derail the euphoric Falcons. They posted five more points before the set was over, but dropped on an ace from Emily Krasic, 25-14.
The two swapped leads over and over and over again, all the way to Severna Park’s 18th point. It was then that the Falcons threatened to hit the gas — spurred by back-to-back aces from freshman Sara Mahmud, they strung together a four-point streak to take a 21-17 lead.
But Watts and the Wildcats turned it back on them, and then some. The sophomore logged two kills in the fivepoint streak to make it 24-23 Arundel.
But then, the Falcons made a mistake at the net and thunderous screams poured down from the Arundel side of the bleachers, mounting up in the center of their court.
With the 25-23 set win, the Wildcats were on their way.
But if Arundel was tooth, then Severna Park was nail. Again, the squads were knotted up until the last six-point stretch.
First, Watts tipped in a ball to the court for a point. Then, Meehan fired a kill into the ground.
In no time, Arundel had knotted the sets at two games apiece with the 25-18 win.
If the Falcons were rattled by what had happened – their clean sweep snatched away from them in under an hour – they didn’t show it. They couldn’t.
Again, the two tied each other like it was in the rulebook. But Arundel always, always had the upper hand.
For the 14th point, Meehan shot the kill into the hardwood.
As Watts’ serve ended up in the hands of Severna Park, who hit their ball into their own net, it was over.
With the victory, the Wildcats advance to face South River next.